SADTU halts work-to-rule protest in KZN as Education Department pledges to make outstanding payments
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu-Natal has suspended its province-wide work-to-rule campaign following a meeting with the Department of Education earlier this week, where the department committed to paying outstanding school allocations and resolving examination disruptions.
SADTU said the meeting with Head of Department, GN Ngcobo and his top management followed engagements with the Premier, who pledged R900 million in emergency funding to address the ongoing education crisis.
'The mere commitment by the Premier to assist the department with R900 million does not automatically remove the reality that schools have no money and are waiting for the allocation from the department,' the union stated.
According to SADTU, the department committed to making payments to schools by July 4 and July 31. 'Upon receiving the Premier's committed money, the employer will make payments to schools,' the union said.
In addition, SADTU confirmed that the department would address the backlog in 2024 basic and Learning and Teaching Support Material allocations as it receives its equitable share from the National Treasury.
The union also welcomed the revised mid-year examination timetable, which resumes on June 18. 'Schools that do not have the necessary resources to administer the June examination will be assisted by the department through printing enough examination papers for all affected schools,' SADTU said, adding that it supports the revised schedule.
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However, SADTU criticised the department's policy on compulsory common tests for underperforming schools. 'Forcing schools to write common tests undermines the intellectual capacity of teachers who teach but get denied the opportunity to assess their learners,' the union said.
It further challenged the department's assertion that high-performing schools requested to write the tests, saying 'this is far from the truth as schools are forced to write these tests.'
The department's internal memo dated June 17 confirms that schools with a 2024 NSC pass rate of 85% or less 'must adhere to the revised common test programme' while those above 85% that 'voluntarily requested' to participate must also comply.
'The writing of common tests is costly to the Department and remains unjustifiable, especially during this financially challenging time,' SADTU noted.
The union said the department agreed to convene a meeting by June 27 to discuss standardised testing.
In conclusion, SADTU announced the suspension of its work-to-rule action. 'The union leadership will continue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer,' it said.
'We thank our members for their commitment… Everyone knows that without their effort and dedication on the picket line, we would not have scored these victories for our schools.'
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