KwaZulu-Natal teachers are taking leave to campaign for the ANC, Cope claimed yesterday.
KwaZulu-Natal teachers are taking leave to campaign for the ANC, Cope claimed yesterday.
" Cope publicly condemns teachers under Sadtu who take up leave to campaign for the ANC, especially in Eastern Cape," said Cope spokesperson Siyanda Mhlongo.
The education system was in a "deep crisis" and teachers who abandoned classes to campaign full-time for the ANC were insensitive, he said.
The SA Democratic Teachers Union, however, denied the claims. Sadtu's Sipho Nkosi said "only one" teacher had been sent to campaign for the ANC in Eastern Cape.
"There is only one teacher I sent to Eastern Cape to campaign for the ANC. The teacher is a full-time union official.
"We have an agreement with the department that full-time Sadtu officials like me do not teach," said Nkosi.
Mhlongo in turn rejected Nkosi's "only one teacher" claim.
He said Cope expected Education Minister Naledi Pandor and KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Ina Cronje to investigate all teachers who took leave.
The Education Department was not immediately available for comment. - Sapa
'Teachers take leave to campaign for ANC'
KwaZulu-Natal teachers are taking leave to campaign for the ANC, Cope claimed yesterday.
KwaZulu-Natal teachers are taking leave to campaign for the ANC, Cope claimed yesterday.
" Cope publicly condemns teachers under Sadtu who take up leave to campaign for the ANC, especially in Eastern Cape," said Cope spokesperson Siyanda Mhlongo.
The education system was in a "deep crisis" and teachers who abandoned classes to campaign full-time for the ANC were insensitive, he said.
The SA Democratic Teachers Union, however, denied the claims. Sadtu's Sipho Nkosi said "only one" teacher had been sent to campaign for the ANC in Eastern Cape.
"There is only one teacher I sent to Eastern Cape to campaign for the ANC. The teacher is a full-time union official.
"We have an agreement with the department that full-time Sadtu officials like me do not teach," said Nkosi.
Mhlongo in turn rejected Nkosi's "only one teacher" claim.
He said Cope expected Education Minister Naledi Pandor and KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Ina Cronje to investigate all teachers who took leave.
The Education Department was not immediately available for comment. - Sapa