Teachers, please stop complaining
As a parent and avid Facebook user, I followed the comments of teachers on Facebook with regard to web-based lessons and more recently the statement by the minister of basic education [Angie Motshekga] indicating that schools will reopen for teachers on May 18.
This is a tentative date as indicated by her spokesperson.
What really upset me is the unhappiness by teachers about the decision. The following were mentioned, some in a somewhat degrading way to the minister:
● What about my children at home? Huh? As IT workers, both my wife and I had to work during the lockdown measures under lockdown five. Under lockdown four another 1.5m workers returned to work on May 4. Who looked after their children and the children of nurses and doctors who had to work 12hour shifts?
● Suddenly the government doesn’t care? I’m sorry. Millions of workers went on unpaid leave during the lockdown, lesser salaries or retrenched while you earned your full salary and then you still asked when you are getting your general increases;
● I visited the department’s website and am astonished by the different leave measures for educators and other public servants. Leave measures that those of us not employed in the public service don’t enjoy.
To mention a few:
● Leave for quarantine purposes — 45 days if you contract the disease and not taken from your annual sick leave as with private sector employees;
● Incapacity leave if you have used all your sick leave before the three-year cycle ends. In the private sector I would be dismissed for incapacity as I’m not able to fulfil my duties;
● Full maternity benefits for four months and paternity leave equal to eight days; and
● Religious leave of three days to celebrate Eid or Diwali. I must use my vacation leave.
So please educators, stop saying your employer does not care. We cannot keep our children out of school for longer periods as some of them in your schools are going hungry as the only meal they receive is at school.
So please be happy as you are ensured your salary and bonus if your birthday is in May whereas millions of other South Africans are begging to go back to work for them to feed their families.