The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) held its sixth national congress, in Midrand, Gauteng, in a politically charged environment owing to the ongoing succession battle within the ANC.
Sadtu has been very vocal about where its sympathy lies regarding who should lead the ANC. With its massive following of 230 000 members, it is key in deciding who wears the crown come 2009.
So politically tense was the conference that some education commentators remarked that educational issues received scant attention. In the first two days, very little quality discussion took place on educational issues as delegates debated who should address them.
On the second day matters became heated and proceedings halted when delegates demanded that their ‘hero”, Jacob Zuma, should be allowed to address them following allegations that the ANC bigwigs had barred him from doing so.
However, in the end the conference adopted several declarations.
On empowering educators:
The union committed itself to empowering its members through professional development and trade union and political education.
On repositioning Sadtu:
Sadtu would reposition itself as part of the Cosatu 2015 plan based on the principles of worker control, internal democracy, gender representativity and equality, effective administration, optimal utilisation of human and material resources and service to members.
On a bargaining strategy to improve members’ conditions of service:
Increasing medical aid provision for all public servants;
Protecting the rights and conditions of lecturers at further education and training colleges;
Incentivising teachers in rural areas; and
Job security and improved conditions for adult basic education and training (Abet) educators.
On people’s education, Sadtu committed itself to the goals of the Freedom Charter. Based on this it would campaign for:
Free and equal education;
An end to the apartheid backlogs and provision of infrastructural requirements;
A national plan and strategy for teacher development to improve the quality of teaching and learning; and
The reprioritisation of Abet to address the massive illiteracy in the country and a call on the government to provide leadership and stop giving mixed messages on HIV/Aids. Since 12% of educators are HIV-positive, up to 20 000 of them are in need of ARVs and more support is needed for Aids orphans.
On Zimbabwe:
Sadtu pledged its support for the teachers and workers of Zimbabwe and Swaziland. It resolved to assist refugees from Zimbabwe, especially teachers and children, in seeking access to South African education system.