COSATU NW Dept of education and farm learners 05-02-08

 

COSATU North West press statement on the Department of Education and farm learners

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns the professional lies by the Department of Education about farm learners who have not been able to attend a single class since the beginning of this year due to their unprofessional conduct, lack of consultation and their destroying of the learners’ future with the so-called merging of farm and rural schools.

When COSATU challenged the so-called merging of farm schools without proper consultation with all stake holders, including poor learners, we were told publicly by the same spokesperson from the Department of Education that we do not understand the problem and that we want them to use the same old schools previously used by learners, which will compel them to walk for more than ten kilometres and expect educators to go back to the old schools and start again.

COSATU remains on its position that its members are not going to be treated like this by people who do not care about the future of our poor learners, poor educators and the rest of poor society in the province.

We call on the following:

For the Department of Education to apologise publicly to the poor working class and the people of this country for wasting farm learners’ time to learn.
The MEC of Education and Senior Directors who lied to the public to resign.
The MEC to put inn place other plans for learners so they do not suffer due to their so-called merging of farm schools.
The Department of Education to respect the right of learners including those of poor farm learners who have not been able to go to school due to the deliberate conduct of the Department of Education officials who undermined the credibility of the poor working class and their families.
The Department of Education to respect the conditions of SADTU / COSATU, members and the rest of the workers in the province.

When COSATU rejected the move to merge farm/ rural schools in December 2007 certain members of the bourgeoisie and dictators were quick to challenge the federation and use their political power and capitalists to manipulate the poor learners.

It is high time that elected leaders and government respect and take advice of the people who are affected by poverty.

We are therefore calling for the Department of Education to correct the situation within seven days from today, 5 February 2008, so that farm learners also enjoy the right to free education as per the ANC January 8th statement

For more information feel free to call Solly Phetoe COSATU Provincial Secretary – North West – on 082 304 4055