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On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, they have been hailed for their bravery during the Covid-19 pandemic and for making sure the academic year is saved, but the South African Union of Democratic Teachers (Sadtu) has accused the state of being a “indifferent employer” for failing to pay raises owed two years ago.
“[The employer is] showing no respect or appreciation for hard-working teachers, even during such difficult times of pain and anxiety caused by the pandemic. It is a slap in the face that has left many teachers demoralized, ”Sadtu said in a statement Monday.
The union therefore said that it supports the strike planned by Cosatu on Wednesday, which, among other things, is against corruption, unemployment, gender violence and the erosion of collective bargaining.
“The undermining of collective bargaining undermines democracy and dialogue in the workplace. When dialogue is destroyed, the results will be the promotion of anarchy and vigilantism. The promotion of collective bargaining ensures labor peace in the workplace. The right to bargain collectively, enshrined in our democratic law, is threatened by the apartheid-era styles applied by the employer in a democratic state. This must be rejected, ”says Sadtu’s statement.
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5. This year, the basic education department celebrated the day in Mamelodi, near Pretoria, with the theme Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reinventing the Future.
Speaking at a celebration Monday morning, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga thanked teachers for having “worked tirelessly during the most uncertain period in our history.”
“Unfortunately, some teachers have succumbed to [corona]viruses and other ailments. We send our condolences to the bereaved families. Your loss penetrates deep into our souls. Take comfort that your loved ones have run the race. Ours is to take the spear and move on. The deceased will continue to live among us in our hearts ”.
Motshekga said teachers are the heart of the basic education department and the country must do more to show appreciation for them. “Our teachers deserve additional support through monetary and non-monetary measures for their tenacity, experience, and staying power.”
Sadtu said the pandemic had exposed the “appalling conditions in which teachers work,” including overcrowded classrooms and inadequate infrastructure such as bathrooms. “This again showed that teachers have been leading a crisis for a long time and this makes it difficult for them, as they are expected to do so as teachers, to reimagine the future.”
Education MECs also thanked teachers for leading from the front lines during the Covid times.
Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi said that although Covid-19 posed a serious challenge, teachers stood their ground and made sure the academic year was saved. “We want to congratulate and thank all the educators who were at the forefront of ensuring that they provide support to our students … Most importantly, they were in a position to provide them with an education.”
Kwazi Mshengu, the KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC, also thanked the teachers in that province for working well with the department to save the academic year. He said his department is committed to working hard to improve working conditions for teachers to ensure a successful teaching and learning project.
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