Education in crisis | Western Cape teachers' strike looming

CAPE TOWN - With 2,400 teaching posts set to be abolished in the Western Cape, the MEC for Education is appealing to teachers not to go on strike.

Instead, David Maynier says he wants them to work alongside the department, not against it.

READ: Sadtu threatens mass action to get Ramaphosa to sign the BELA Bill

National budget cuts have caused a shortfall of almost R4-billion, so contract teaching posts will not be renewed at the end of the year. And some permanently employed teachers are being moved to schools where there is a greater need.

Concerned parents, teachers, pupils and civil society organisations gathered to discuss the impact of over 2,000 teaching posts being cut come January next year.

They say they will do everything in their power  to protect the right of all children to a good education. 

They say the pupil-teacher ratio is already too high, with some schools having to deal with 50 and more pupils in a class. 

Sadtu Western Cape provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi said, "Should we fail in our dispute to ensure that all the teachers jobs are secure, our members are up in arms, they are calling for a strike action. But we believe that we cannot fight this alone as teachers we need the rest of the community because is does not only impact on the jobs of teachers but the quality of education.”

WC Education MEC David Maynier said, "Striking will not change the fact that we are being short changed by national government.Which only provided 64 percent of the cost of the wage agreement negotiated nationally  with unions. Leaving  the province to fund the remaining 35 percent.

Even if we cut all the programmes that teachers union suggested we will not come anywhere close to dealing with the 3.8 billion shortfall. We have not taken the reduced teaching posts lightly and will do everything possible to fight for our teachers.”

But the ANC in the Western Cape describes the decision by the province as unacceptable and callous. 

WC leader of the opposition Khalid Sayed said, "It points to an irresponsible attitude by the Western Government towards learning and teaching especially in our working class communities. 

”Cut funding from education and health to fund a safety plan in the Western Cape."

He says while all provinces have been affected, it is the responsibility of the Western Cape government to ensure that education for every child in this province is not  compromised. 

They say that with the overcrowding, especially in township schools, more teachers should be employed.