About one million school pupils will not write their end of year exams if the planned strike by teachers goes ahead, the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) warned on Monday.
At a press briefing in Johannesburg, Cosas president-general Smanga Mpila said replacements used while regular teachers were on strike would only confuse pupils during this crucial period.
”Should there be a strike by teachers we shall not have a choice but to withdraw our members from this year’s exams. The solution will be to postpone exams to early next year as learners will have to write under a conducive environment.”
He said pupils could not write exams in the current climate.
Mpila said teachers were ”the most exploited workers in the country” and urged President Thabo Mbeki to intervene in the matter.
He said government should compromise and not allow a one percent difference between the state’s pay offer and the unions’ pay demand to frustrate the process.
Government tabled a six percent offer plus a one percent pay progression for workers who performed well.
The package also included R500-million for teachers to address the lack of pay progression from 1996 to 2003.
Unions argue there was very little difference to actual money in the pockets of their members. – Sapa