The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) sent instructions to managers, principals and governing body chairs earlier this month on what to in the event of a strike, based on standard procedure in the WCED's Guide on Industrial Action.

The WCED acknowledges the right of employees to withhold labour in legal industrial action, and similarly reserves the right to apply the well-established principle of "no work, no pay", in terms of the Labour Relations Act.

The WCED requires school principals and departmental managers to keep an accurate record of the situation in their areas of responsibility, make arrangements to ensure order, and to keep a register of staff present or absent on the days of the strike action.

The department requires our district offices and schools to ensure that no learner is without supervision. No school may be closed without notice or permission from the relevant district office, via the circuit manager.