ACDP says unfettered union activity and interference plays major role in blocking measures to improve education

MEDIA RELEASE

Cheryllyn Dudley MP

25 April 2013

ACDP says unfettered union activity and interference plays major role in blocking measures to improve education 

* learners left unattended or forced to take part in protests unacceptable

* poor communities worst affected by SADTU strike

Cheryllyn Dudley MP and Education spokesperson for the ACDP said “the ACDP finds it unacceptable that learners were left unattended in some schools and in some instances, were forced to take part in protests.” 

Dudley said “from reports received so far, it is clear that learners from poor communities were the ones worst affected.”

In the North West province 2048 teachers were reported to be absent and 18 schools were shut down. 

In the Western Cape 163 schools were affected, 2474 teachers were reported absent, a total of 48 schools were closed and about 100 learners were seen participating in the protest march. 

In Limpopo the Capricorn district experienced disruptions as learners left schools earlier than the usual time.

In Gauteng reports are still being correlated, but it was one of the provinces affected by the protests. 

In Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal no major disruptions have been reported. 

“The ACDP is disappointed that teachers abandoned their duties to involve themselves in a protest march and disapproves of SADTU’s disregard for the education of our children.” 

“The Education sector in South Africa faces many challenges and unfettered union activity and interference plays a major role in preventing the implementation of rational measures to improve the quality of education.”