SADTU National Executive Committee calls for Teacher Development and OSD agreement implemenatation
25 June 2009
SADTU National Executive Committee calls for
– teacher development and opening of colleges
– OSD agreement and 15% salary increase for 2009
SADTU`s National Executive Committee (NEC) met in Johannesburg over the last two days (24-25 June) to chart the way forward on the following issues:
Teacher Development Summit
In relation to the Summit to be jointly convened with the Department of Education next week, the NEC called for concrete outcomes from this process. In particular we want to see the reopening of the colleges of education to increase the output of new teachers, in line with the decision of the ANC – at least one in each province by 2010. It is also a question of developing new modes of delivery of teacher development.
In particular:
- We need to streamline current policies to reduce bureaucracy for the teachers. in particular we call for the immediate halt of processes related to the NEEDU;
- Provide a supportive context for teacher development to take place in the schools
- Capacitate the School Districts to provide support
- Provide national funding for teacher development
- Clarify the roles of all the role players in the teacher development field to ensure coherence and synergy
- Provide varied, relevant and quality training and development opportunities for teachers
- Reopen colleges of education at least one per province by 2010
- Provide institutes of teacher development at least one per province by 2010 to spearhead delivery of in-service development opportunities to teachers on the ground
- To develop a streamlined RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) system to assist unqualified teachers to reach the minimum qualification level as a matter of urgency, and to set clear objectives to assist all teachers to reach the level of REQV 14 (M + 14) within clear timeframes.
- The Summit decisions and recommendations to be fully costed, with a report to the Minister within three months, for immediate roll-out
- The NEC also reiterated SADTU`s opposition to the growing practice by the Department of Education of declaring policy without any meaningful consultation with the main stakeholders, the teachers.
Quality Teaching and Learning Campaign
The Union is concerned that the Department of Education has been silent in recent weeks in regard to this crucial campaign. We said that as role players we need to identify our individual responsibilities and commit to carry these out. In particular, we said that teachers must be on time, on task, well prepared and professional at all time. At the same time government needs to ensure that basic infrastructure, learning materials, development and support are in place.
We believe that SADTU members must be sensitive to the rights of learners and the community, even as they seek to exercise their own rights. For SADTU this means strict adherence to labour agreements and procedures in relation to taking industrial action which should always be a last resort – so that there is no unnecessary disruption of schooling. The Union does not condone illegal or unprotected industrial action. However, the NEC recognized the extreme levels of frustration experienced by members as a result of poor management and administrative delays. This will be addressed by the Union. Even so, the Union takes the view that the national policy of the organization should be applied. To this end the Union will also include correct labour procedures in its induction training programme.
Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD)
This is outstanding business arising out of the agreement reached in the PSCBC in 2007 to end the public service strike, with the implementation of OSD.
SADTU sees the culmination of the OSD talks as a contribution to the objective of attracting and retaining professionals in the public service; this within the broader context of service delivery in a developmental state.
SADTU`s OSD demands have been reformulated as follows:
- A basic entry-level salary of R180,000 pa for newly qualified teachers, to be implemented as part of a new salary structure over a period of time.
- Salary progression for the assessment cycle 2007/8 and 2008/9 to be paid by 1 July 2009
- Accelerated pay progression to be brought forward to 1 July 2010 and 2012
- One notch (1%) to be paid for every three years in respect of recognition of experience
- As a matter of urgency, all educators below REQV 13 to be paid at the level of REQV 13 after implementation of a streamlined RPL (recognition of prior learning) system for salary purposes
- Ensure all educators are on M+4 by 2012 through an intensive teacher development programme
Senior and master teachers to be accelerated by six notches.
SADTU also calls for the OSD gains to be extended to lecturers in the FETC sector. The conditions of temporary teachers, ABET and ECD practitioners need to be made permanent and brought in line with those of public school educators.
2009 Salary Negotiations
NEC fully endorsed the position of the COSATU public service unions: for a 15% increase back-dated to April 1st for a single year: 2009-2010
Eskom Price Hike
The NEC is appalled by the news that the Regulator has granted Eskom a 31.3% price hike. As part of COSATU we say that workers must not be made to pay for the mismanagement of Eskom and the current economic meltdown. This increase will also be a deathblow to marginal firms, leading to further job losses. SADTU therefore supports any action taken by COSATU to oppose implementation of the price hike.
Issued by: SADTU Secretariat
SADTU is the largest union in the public service with 235,000 members and represents two-thirds of teachers.
CONTACTS:
Thobile Ntola, President 079 491 3258
Mugwena Maluleke, Acting General Secretary @ 082 783 2968
Nomusa Cembi, Media Officer @ 082 719 5157