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On Sat, 18 Jan 2014 07:24:51 +0200 "VC" wrote 17 JANUARY 2014 SADTU� (tm)S RESPONSE TO THE VITRIOLIC ATTACK BY NOGA KOBE The article by Noga Kobe titled � SADTU� (tm)s stance in Limpopo is anti-development� (tm) that appeared in the New Age newspaper of Monday, 13th January 2013 refers. The article has been written with much alacrity and venom. Had it not been riddled with lies, half- truths and untruths we would have ordinarily dismissed it as the rantings of a sycophantic praise singer who is singing for his next supper. The article has revealed his pathetic lack of understanding of what a trade union such as SADTU with a rich and proud history of being at the forefront of leading education workers struggle for social and political transformation of our society stands for. His unjustified vitriolic attack does not only serve to undermine the good working relationship that SADTU has established with the department of education in Limpopo despite our conflictual and often diametrically opposed views inherent in our organizational/institutional mandates, but also unmasks him as an adventuristic journeyman who is transposing a DA agenda that blames anything negative about education on SADTU and the ruling party. We hope the department will move swiftly to distance themselves from such dangerous comments despite the half-hearted disclaimer issued by the writer that he writes in his own personal capacity. The nature of the issues raised in the article suggests otherwise. Let us set the record straight on the two issues raised in the article. First, on the issue of principals of schools called to account as they are purportedly CEO� (tm)s, SADTU never called for impunity of employees. We have indicated that it will be wrong for anyone to apportion blame on one section of people in a long chain of managers who should also account for the poor results. Blame must be directed to everyone beginning right from head office and if there are consequences to follow, they too must take the blame. As for accusing SADTU for claiming to know the problem even long before the authorities know it, we plead guilty as charged. Let us tell the writer what we know. We know for one that schools in Limpopo were robbed of monies for the last tranche of norms and standards in 2011/2012 financial year. Even when such funds have to be paid it takes a lot of nudging from SADTU for such to happen, often with disastrous results to schools. We know for instance that some of these principals have to work under the most trying of circumstances (read under trees or dilapidated buildings with no proper sanitation. The story of no delivery of textbooks is quite legendary. We know that there are few subject advisors appointed by the department to help educators and where they exist the department is failing to honour their transport claims. We know that ECD exists in name only, with massive casualisation of practitioners. No provision of payment for winter classes and spring classes, no provision for SASCE and sporting activities to motivate learners. What about teacher development? Microwave workshops where teachers are expected to stay for the whole day without proper catering? Need we say more? No payment for acting allowances. The list is just endless, hence we maintain that the article expose the shallowness of the writer� (tm)s understanding of what � contextualising� (tm) means and it borders on the nae and pedestrian. Proper contextualization would mean that if you want to discipline you must follow the Labour Relations Act and other laws that deal with underperformance and such laws will dictate that you must first prove what you have done to try and remedy the situation before you can try and act. The jury is out to determine whether the department can pass the test amidst the litany of woes we have listed above. On the second issue of merger of schools, the writer is peddling a lie that cannot be corroborated by facts. Limpopo is one of the provinces that is highly regarded by other provinces on having successfully concluded the process of merging of schools in the recent past. This feat was achieved because SADTU and other unions were afforded an opportunity to participate fully in the processes. The previous process was however without its ups and downs and as SADTU we requested the department to draw lessons from these experiences as we approach the proposed mergers of newly identified schools. We cautioned the department not to move in haste while ignoring some of these challenges. But clearly the writer seems to believe that the department has come with an eschatological discovery of some sort and all that SADTU has to do is to offer a silent acquiescence and be amused by the process as it unfolds. Any other concern is regarded by the writer as � anti-development� (tm). Now that is a staple diet for sycophantic praise singers and not SADTU. As SADTU we are proud of the fact that we are at the cutting edge of fighting for free and quality public education for all as well as the improvement of the conditions of service for our members. We are equally fighting for teacher development in our country and to that end we are inspired by the ANC� (tm)s 2014 Election Manifesto that has highlighted this important aspect which will act as a locomotive that will propel the improvement of the quality of our education. SADTU through COSATU is signatory to the Social Accord at NEDLAC as well the Teaching and Learning Campaign with its attendant � non-negotiables� (tm). SADTU always puts it money where its mouth is. Last year one of the schools in Limpopo namely Alapha Secondary School in Basewater Capricorn Region got a zero percent. Many organisations including the departmental officials descended on the school like vultures on a mission to feed on a supposedly dead carcass. Hogging the limelight of the media, many such organisations made some nice sound-bites promising to assist the school but nothing came out of it. SADTU Limpopo, guided by its passion to achieve quality public education decided to adopt the school. Our structures in the branch committed educators to teach extra classes at the school with SADTU hiring and paying for a bus to ferry the learners every weekend. During the spring holidays we organized a learning camp in Polokwane for those learners and others from the neighbouring schools at a price amounting to R300K. It is common knowledge that the results in all of those schools have improved quite tremendously. As if that was not enough, SADTU organized a career exhibition for all the high schools in the Circuit. We also provided more than 200 learners in three schools adopted by SADTU with school uniforms and other basic necessities. We have donated brand new computers to four schools in the circuit. So much for being anti-development! For the record SADTU Limpopo has through its SADTU Curtis Nkondo Professional Development Institute trained no less than 20 000 educators in the province on Assessment for Learning Programme and usage of CAPS material In the same period SADTU conducted SMT training for selected principals of schools in the province and all those principals are now enrolled with SACE on Continuous Professional Teacher Development Programme. All these training were conducted in hotels or lodges with accommodation and full catering provided to the trainees. Now this ignoramus is oblivious to all of these developments taken by SADTU and takes cheap political pot-shots at us for whatever mileage he hopes to gain out of it. As revolutionaries we subscribe to the political dictum advanced by Amilcar Cabral that says � Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories.⠠ Mr Kobe should remove the blinkers from his eyes and begin to smell the coffee. It will not take any undoing by any political upstart to undo the good things that SADTU is doing in this province in advancing the agenda of people� (tm)s education for people� (tm)s power. Hands Off SADTU! AS COMPILED BY THE SECRETARIAT CONTACT: MATOME RAPHASHA, PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, 082 804 0800 TJEBANE SOWELL, DEPUTY PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, 082 808 3161 __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 9306 (20140117) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com [1] Links: ------ [1] http://www.eset.com ____________________________________________________________ South Africas premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za Cotlands - Shaping tomorrows Heroes http://www.cotlands.org.za/ -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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