The ANC manifesto in 1994 was impressive with regards to learning…
An ANC government will:
•introduce one education system that provides ten years of free and compulsory education for all children;
•start utilising all existing school facilities;
•provide more classrooms and repair and modernise inadequate facilities;
•double the number of free text-books within one year;
•allow mother-tongue instruction and education in the language of choice;
•provide a national bursary and loan system;
•provide adult literacy programmes;
•assist youths who have not been able to complete their education;
•focus on ways of providing pre-school educare;
•give special assistance to women…”
A closer look at our Bill of rights states that;
~ Education: You have the right to basic education, including adult basic education, in your own language (if this is possible).
~ Assembly, demonstration, picket and petition: You can hold a demonstration, picket and present a petition. But you must do this peacefully.
~ Freedom of association: You can associate with whomever you want to.
I am a strong believer that teachers need to be uplifted in our Society. They play a pivotal role in the education of our children and even although we say that children learn all their morals and values at home we all know from experience that it was teachers that hooked us onto something in life for life or just as easily killed that dream! I was told I really battle with French, so I gave it up. I now speak 5 languages including French which I speak like English and really all it was, was influence (not necessarily bad!!) from the person I was sitting next too. I had fun and didn’t concentrate too much!! That was after getting 80% the year before!!
So the question is: should they be asking for more money?
Yes they should!!!
For me it is not in what they are asking for but the way they are asking for it.
Our Bill of Rights states that education is a right. Teachers take an oath like a doctor or lawyer. However, they seem to ignore this undertaking.
Children have a right to be in the classroom learning right now. No one has a right to intimidate the rest of us like that. Matrics have a right not to be threatened by this action when they are in their final moments before the big exams.
Our Bill of Rights also states that demonstrations and picketing must be done peacefully and that we have Freedom of Association. Surely if a teacher does not want to strike that is their choice!
I have also had the amazing experience of facilitating certain subject matter workshops and OBE workshops for teachers and am very often appalled by the fact that at starting time 08h30 for 09h00 we have 10 teachers of 60 sitting ready to start. The rest arrive periodically throughout the morning making sure they are there for lunch and they disappear just as fast afterwards. One bunch over a 5 day workshop were so excited to be in town they ‘casinoed’ and drank till all hours at their own admission and slept all day in the class. How do these people instil a love of education and learning when they themselves are lacking!
What comes first: upliftment of the job and more pay or respect for the job and then you are rewarded for your dedication and passion.
I unfortunately do not have all the answers. I just know that constitutionally speaking what is happening today with the educator strikes is wrong. I also know that I would not want to send my child to a school where educators create havoc and trash things and then expect the kids in a few weeks time to sit quietly in the classroom and listen with respect. I know that when my son goes back to school he has every reason to respect his teachers but how many out there will not have that same opportunity!!
Would you want this person to be teaching your children!!
And I dread the day I have to go to hospital and these ones have to stick a needle in my arm!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment