The constitutional right of all children to a basic education is being violated by teachers going on strike, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.
‘For the umpteenth time the learners of our country are being made the cannon fodder of education disputes,” DA spokesperson on education Junita Kloppers-Lourens said in her statement.
The strike is affecting up to 12-million learners and results from the inability of the government and unions to reach agreement in the Public Service Bargaining Council and the federation of trade unions to reach an agreement, the DA statement said.
“While section 23(2)(c) of the Constitution gives every worker the right to strike, section 29(1)(a) of the same Constitution guarantees everyone a right to a basic education. Furthermore, section 28(2) states that in every matter concerning a child, the child’s best interests are of paramount importance,” the statement read.
‘The DA fully agrees with the wording and spirit of this section. When it comes to education, the interests of our learners should always enjoy precedence. This means that there should be a dedicated and well prepared teacher in each classroom, every day of the schooling year.”
Striking teachers must avoid any unlawful behaviour during the strike, the DA warned. “They should refrain from forcing learners to partake in demonstrations, and should not prevent learners from focusing on their studies in the absence of their teachers.”
Teachers — and other public-service workers — embarked on strike action after failing to reach an agreement with the state during their wage talks. Labour is demanding an 8,5% wage increase and a housing allowing of R1 000.
Government’s offer entails a wage increase of 7% and a housing subsidy of R630 per month, with a clear message that there will not be another offer.
“By considering the low pass rate of our Grade 12 learners as well as the high national drop-out rate of the past few years, educators’ demands for higher salaries seem to be undeserved. The DA is of the view that many hardworking and dedicated teachers are entitled to better salary packages. Unfortunately such educators are in the minority by far,” Kloppers-Lourens said in her statement.
Kloppers-Lourens also said, in a separate statement on Tuesday, that she had requested a meeting with Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga to suggest that teaching be classified as an essential service. Such a classification – which currently applies to public-sector employees such as emergency-health workers – would prohibit teachers from striking in future.