EXTRA classes for KZN matric pupils have been cancelled and the June exams postponed, after teacher union Sadtu announced its work-to-rule action.
Education experts have slammed this move and called on unions to “stop using pupils as bargaining chips”.
This action will see teachers strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of their jobs, performing tasks exactly specified in their contracts and nothing more.
Some schools in KZN have already sent out circulars to parents advising that extra classes for matric pupils had been cancelled and the postponement of the June examinations.
Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza, said the education system in the province had collapsed due to various failures by the Department of Education’ (DoE).
“There has been non-payment of the basic finance allocations and failure to adhere to national norms and standards. For example, for Quintile one to three schools, the DoE in KZN pays R955 per pupil instead of R1 602, resulting in a shortfall of R647.
“There was a failure to pay the basic finance allocation to schools and the acting allowances to office-based teachers and education workers. Schools have no money to procure other teaching and learning support resources. There was also the non-payment of service providers that supplied schools with stationery in January, and the non-payment of Grade R practitioners in April.
“There has been no participation of schools in extracurricular activities, as the department claims it has no funds. Teacher appreciation initiatives like the National Teaching Awards are under threat, as the department failed to organise this again in 2024 claiming it had no funds,” she added.
Caluza said the department had engaged in “silent retrenchment” processes as there was a moratorium on filling of vacancies for school clerks, teacher assistants, and security.
“The lack of security in schools is exposing teachers to danger. Two teachers had their vehicles hijacked at gunpoint on school premises in two months. The DoE’s failures are not just in contempt of the education policy, but also a blatant disregard of the Constitution.
“The state of education in the province is dire and dysfunctional. Senior officials in the department are well aware of the crisis and yet have done nothing to improve the situation.
“Sadtu has declared the KZN DoE as having collapsed, and as a result, we have embarked on a work-to-rule campaign. Members will not attend meetings or workshops organised by the department. Principals will not attend meetings or workshops and will boycott making submissions until the department pays all the money owed to schools. They will focus exclusively on seven hours of classroom teaching, and no extra classes will be conducted,” Caluza added.
Doctor Ngema, general secretary for the National Teachers Union (Natu), said the education system was in a crisis.
“We cannot remain silent while the constitutional right to basic education, enshrined in the Constitution, is systematically eroded. Owing to many years of budget cuts, we are now left with a chronic state of underfunding and infrastructural decay – leaving many schools with dilapidated classrooms, school infrastructure, a lack of basic amenities such as toilets, electricity, and safe classrooms.
“Despite extensive engagements with provincial departments of education and the DoE, Natu has exhausted all diplomatic avenues to address these critical issues. Consequently, we are compelled to initiate picket actions to demand urgent change. We call on all school principals to refrain from using personal funds to sustain school operations, as it is the responsibility of the department to provide all necessary resources for the June exams,” he added.
Labby Ramrathan, a UKZN education expert, said unions needed to stop using pupils as bargaining chips.
“This threat of strike action is a concern for pupils. It is unwise, and irresponsible of unions to do this. If they claim that the KZN education system has collapsed, then they should deal with the education system, and not use the pupils as bargaining chips,” he added.
Ramrathan said unions needed to find effective ways to deal with their grievances.
“They should take the DoE to court, instead of putting the children at a disadvantage. By embarking on protest action, they are creating an unstable environment. Teacher unions need to find new ways of dealing with challenges. They are destabilising the education system by using strike action and withdrawal of support as a weapon of threat. They must be able to deal with the DoE independently, without threats that affect the pupils,” he added.
Vee Gani, chairperson of the KZN Parents Association, said the unions concerns were valid, and it was unfortunate that exams had to be postponed.
He said he had been inundated with calls from concerned parents after they were notified that the June examinations had been postponed.
“Some schools have taken a decision to postpone the exams. It is a worry, but unions are fighting for norms and standards. Schools are unable to function without the proper finances. In essence, it’s a ripple effect. If service providers or subsidies are not paid, how can schools sustain themselves?
“How are they going to function and deliver quality education under those circumstances. The budget for education has been cut, but teachers and principals are expected to do more with less. It’s difficult to operate a school. Some schools have resources but others don’t. I agree that the schooling system is collapsing, because schools are clearly not functioning properly,” he added.
Gani said parents, especially those with children in grades 11 and 12, were concerned about their children’s education.
“Pupils use their grade 11 and 12 results to apply for tertiary education. Pupils not having extra programmes will set them back. Nobody knows how long this stand-off will last, but we are hoping that the issues are resolved soon, so that teaching and learning can resume,” Gani said.
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