Thabo Mohlala
The South African Council of Educators (SACE) is to institute disciplinary measures against rogue educators who have violated its code of ethics.
The move can be seen against the backdrop of growing concerns among parents starting to doubt whether their children’s teachers are credible guardians especially in view of the report last month by the South African Medical Research Council that teachers are responsible for a high percentage of rapes of students.
SACE chairperson Glenn Abrahams says the organisation takes the profession seriously and wants to protect it from unscrupulous elements. Transgressions it will be looking at range from theft to sexual harassment, indecent assault and sexual abuse.
So far 20 educators are set to appear on March 22, in separate sittings, before hearing panels. Educators adjudged to have transgressed the SACE code of ethics face caution, reprimand, a fine of up to a month’s salary or being struck off the roll.
“To us all [transgressions] are serious; none is minor,” says Abrahams; however, much emphasis is on sexually related abuses. And reporting the case to police does not preclude SACE from making its own investigations.
SACE is not only interested in punitive measures, but also in ensuring assistance for both the perpetrator and the victim.
The organisation has an outreach programme that aims at informing educators about their obligations and tasks. It also works with a network of NGOs that provide counselling and mediation services.
Abrahams says the SACE is negotiating with the minister of education about the question of the immediate suspension of an alleged perpetrator so that the victim can feel free while the case is being looked into.
The code of ethics covers three broad areas: relationship between educator and the learners, relationship between colleagues and relationship between educators and the broader community. Examples of fraud and theft cases range from embezzling school funds to illicit dealing in diamonds and drugs within school precincts.
The council, established by Parliament, comprises three educator unions the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, the National Association of Professional Teachers of South Africa, the Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie the Department of Education, the Independent Schools Council of South Africa, the Council for Higher Learning and the National Association of School Governing Bodies. The disciplinary committee intends to sit every two months.