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14 March, 2017 |
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MEC Schafer pleased with SADTU's acknowledgement on Systemic Tests. Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education The systemic tests that are written annually in the Western Cape have been a bone of contention between the WCED and SADTU for a few years now. Last year saw 81 schools not writing the tests, with testers being prevented from entering some schools, learners, teachers and principals being intimidated and physically prevented from writing the tests, property threatened and in some cases damaged, as well as leaving children unsupervised when teachers abandoned their posts to join the protest action. SADTU'S active opposition led to unlawful actions taking place, as a result of which the WCED obtained a court order on Wednesday 26th October 2016, in terms of which they were ordered to inform their members not to disrupt systemic tests commissioned by the WCED and that they must take all reasonable steps to curb any unlawful conduct by its members. The WCED has taken disciplinary action, in the first phase, against 123 of SADTU's members for misconduct committed during the boycott of the systemic tests between October and December 2016. Arising out of these events, the WCED and SADTU entered into a facilitation process at the ELRC to try and reach a suitable agreement as to the way forward. We are of the view that, whilst trade unions have the right to represent their members in issues of mutual interest, this is not one of those matters. It is essential that education departments be allowed to make decisions that they believe are in the interests of education. We have had many discussions with all unions as to the benefits of these tests to the Department, as a result of which we have been able to pinpoint areas of weakness that need interventions. I am very pleased that SADTU has now acknowledged the right of the Education Department to ensure that systemic tests are administered in the province, and that they have agreed to desist from any calls or actions that will lead to disruption in the future. They have also agreed that the WCED will continue administering systemic evaluations for the 81 schools that could not be covered in 2016, and undertake not to protest and/or cause any disruptions to such systemic evaluations, in school premises or directly in front of school gates, in line with the previous Court Order, that may be viewed as intimidation or hindering any access to schools by any one whatsoever. This is a significant agreement and we really look forward to constructive engagements with SADTU in future regarding how to further improve education for all our learners in the Western Cape. Please see attached a copy of the press statement issued by SADTU yesterday, 13th March 2017, for ease of reference. | |
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