MEDIA STATEMENT
17 June 2025
SADTU KZN MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCE
On the 16th of June 2025, the South African Democra9c Teachers’ Union (SADTU) had a meeting with the Head of Department, Mr GN Ngcobo regarding the payment plan and the status of June examinations which had been affected in the past week.
This meeting with the HOD and his top management followed the meeting with the Premier which gave light on resolving the current funding challenges confronting schools in KZN.
The Provincial Executive Committee of SADTU had its first meeting with the employer on the 14th of June 2025 but there was a need for the employer to get more information regarding the number of schools that did not write exams as they lacked resources to administer the same and develop and present a plan to assist these schools. This is so because the mere commitment by the Premier to assist the department with R900 000 000 does not automatically remove the reality that schools have no money and are waiting for the allocation from the department.
In the meeting of the 16th of June, the employer made a presentation as follows:
• that upon receiving the Premier’s committed money, the employer will be making payments to schools. There is commitment to make payments by the 4th of July 2025.
• on the 2024 basic and LTSM allocation backlog, the Department will be making payments as they receive their equitable share.
In summary, the department promised to make payments by the 4th and 31st of July 2025. It must be acknowledged that the Premier made an undertaking to make the money available to the department in two weeks time after the 12th of June 2025.
On Examinations
The employer presented a revised timetable which will ensure that on the 18th of June 2025, all schools resume their mid-term examination. Schools that do not have the necessary resources to administer June examination will be assisted by the department through printing enough examination papers for all affected schools.
The Union supports the revised Timetable.
On Compulsory Common Tests
The Union used the meeting to reiterate its stance on standardised tests. Forcing schools to write common tests undermines the intellectual capacity of teachers who teach but get denied the opportunity to assess their learners. It is noted that the Department in KZN imposes the writing of common tests by all schools that got below 85% in the 2024 NSC examination. This is unacceptable and contradicts DBE D3 Circular of 2023 which clarifies what underperformance is. Furthermore, the Department in its presentation suggested that there are high performing schools that voluntarily applied to write common tests. This is far from the truth as schools are forced to write these tests.
The writing of common tests is costly to the Department and remains unjustifiable especially during this 9me when the department is struggling financially.
To this effect, the Department committed to convene a meeting by the 27th of June 2025 wherein a proper discussion on standardised tests in KZN will take place.
In conclusion, the union suspends its Work to Rule to allow the processing of payments and writing of examinations. The union Leadership will continue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer. We thank our members for their commitment in ensuring that the program becomes a success and that it served the purpose. Everyone knows that without their effort and dedication on the picket line- we would not have scored these victories for our schools.
The end