‘Boycott will crush school morale
THE stalemate between the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the Gauteng Education Department has threatened to ground schooling in Soweto this week.
Last week, the union – the biggest in the township – announced they would be boycotting classes because of alleged racism at Klipspruit West Secondary School.
More than 345 teachers affiliated with the union boycotted classes in schools in the Eldorado Park area.
Yesterday, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi warned teachers to go back to school. However, the union said they wouldn’t go back to school because Lesufi was supposed to meet them on Friday but did not show up. That’s according to Desmond Luvhengo, the Eldorado Park Sadtu chairperson.
Lesufi’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, claimed the meeting didn’t go ahead as not enough teachers showed up.
But Lesufi said the withdrawal of labour by Sadtu in all Eldorado Park schools was “noted with serious concern for disrupting learning and teaching as well as failure by the union to follow proper procedure”.
He said a meeting with the provincial union representatives was scheduled for yesterday. “In the meantime, all educators must report to the school and carry their duty to educate learners and prepare for final exams.”
However, Luvhengo said that would not happen.
“Members will not be reporting to the schools as we were not informed and me telling the members to return to the schools, would make me a sellout,” he said.
Luvhengo said if a resolution was not reached at a meeting set for yesterday, teachers from Ennerdale, Lenasia and Soweto who are affiliated with Sadtu would join the boycott.
The class boycott results from the boycott at Klipspruit West Secondary School were the community had refused black staff members entry to the premises. The problems at the school started over two months ago after the appointment of a black principal.
Luvhengo said as the department was not protecting teachers, it was up to the union to come to their rescue.
The boycott, however, will not have an impact on matric pupils as Lesufi has sent them to a camp until they write their exams. An interim management structure will be placed at the school.
He said Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga was still reviewing the appointment of the principal.
Lesufi has also called in the Human Rights Commission to assist with the allegations of racism at Klipspruit West Secondary. The commission will announce dates and processes for public hearings on racism.
Spokesperson of the Greater Eldorado Park Forum Charis Pretorius said it was unfortunate that political agendas were placed before pupils’ needs.
“The removal of the educators could have been handled better and not during exams,” she said.
Lesufi had been at the Klipspruit West Secondary School with Jacob Mamabolo, Gauteng MEC for infrastructure development, and some residents, to clean the school yard.
“The school is left with 10 teachers and there are about 800 learners. The Grade 11s are scared and confused and the matrics are supposed to be preparing for their upcoming preliminary exams and there is a dysfunctional SGB. Him cleaning the school is just for show,” said Pretorius.