THE welfare of matriculants in KwaZulu-Natal is set to be compromised as the province's education department looks to make sweeping changes to senior moderators and markers in the province.

The changes are a bid to subscribe to ideological, demographic and racial considerations dictated by SADTU, with talk rife that the teacher union is insisting that 90% of allocated markers/moderators are assigned along racial lines.  In a case of "out with the old and in with the new" senior moderators and markers, with experience and competence, are due to be pushed aside to make way for others who may not have necessary skills.

The success or failure of the matric marking process is directly determined by the capability of markers and moderators.   The individual responsible for driving and implementing these changes in KwaZulu-Natal is provincial Education HOD, Dr Sishi.   Worryingly, it appears the new HOD is more intent on gratifying his political superiors than being responsible to learners' needs.  This cannot go unchallenged.  KwaZulu-Natal's education department cannot allow learners' interests to be compromised and must detach itself from the increasing grip of teacher unions.

Statement issued by Tom Stokes, MPP, DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, November 9 2011

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