Lessons continue at a local primary school after the education department intervened to diffuse a teachers’ strike.
After downing tools on the Thursday before last, Tantyi Primary School teachers returned to school on Friday and learning resumed.
Lessons continue at a local primary school after the education department intervened to diffuse a teachers’ strike.
After downing tools on the Thursday before last, Tantyi Primary School teachers returned to school on Friday and learning resumed.
The teachers had protested against of the principal’s leadership which they argued “is outdated”. Principal Christopher Christian said the education department came to the school and established a task team to resolve the issue.
He added that the task team will be composed of himself and representatives from the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), the department and members of the School Governing Body (SGB).
“The school has returned to normal and I’m happy with how everything is going because the department says the matter is nothing which can’t be reolved,” he said.
He added that the department’s officials from the district office dealt with the crisis professionally and that all stakeholders have committed themselves to the process.
“Our first meeting was scheduled for Monday but [a representative from]the education department could not attend the meeting,” he said, adding that next meeting will announced soon.
Contrary to his promises, education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima did not respondto questions put to him by Grocott’s Mail.
According to Christian, the problem started with the vacancy of a substitute teacher for the intermediate phase which was advertised in local community media last month.
He said the school’s teachers prevented the interviews for the candidates from taking place, which were scheduled shortly after shortlisting was concluded on 28 January.
SGB vice-chairperson Gideon Mapapu reserved his comments and said he is waiting for a parents’ meeting to be convened to discuss the matter before he can comment. At the time of going to print Sadtu could not be reached.
