Sadtu doing a great disservice to pupils

IN POST (September 20-24), the chairman of the Parents’ Association of KwaZuluNatal, Vee Gani, highlights the very pertinent issue of teacher absenteeism and the detrimental effect this has on academic performance.

Quoting Mr Gani: “Inadequate curriculum coverage and low teaching time are most problematic in the poorest 60% of schools,” so I find it unfathomable that the SA Democratic Teachers Union chooses to take teachers out of the classroom during school hours for union events.

As a union that aims to improve teaching, especially at basic level in the poorest communities, I think it’s a disservice to the poor learner and education as a whole when you consider the union boasts membership in excess of 250 000. If you do the maths, that’s many invaluable teaching hours lost.

The Economist, characterising South Africa’s educational system as “one of the worst in the world”, placed the blame on Sadtu for “a lack of accountability and the abysmal quality of most teachers”.

The instances of avoidable absenteeism must be dealt with. The delivery of quality education must not be held ransom by anyone or any organisation as the right and accessibility to basic education is enshrined in our constitution.

To aggravate a situation that is already bad shows a lack of empathy on the part of those purporting to be guardians of equality and democracy.

I salute the teachers who, against the odds, put the needs of the pupil first.

RIKESH ISHWARLALL Raisethorpe, Pietermaritzburg