FEDSAS and SAOU take Eastern Cape Education Department to task

COURT DOCUMENTS to force the Eastern Cape Education Department to appoint teachers will be served today (10 February 2011). An urgent application will probably be heard by the High Court by next Thursday (17 February 2011).

This legal action is a joint effort by the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) and the South African Teachers' Union (SAOU) to get the department to fill some 6000 vacant teaching posts in Eastern Cape schools.

"The legal action will not only be to the advantage of members of FEDSAS and the SAOU. All public schools and teachers in the province suffer because of the department's incompetence. It is completely unacceptable that children have to pay for the ineptitude of and abuse of power by these education officials," Mr Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS, and Mr Chris Klopper, CEO of the SAOU, said in a joint media release.

The huge teacher shortage in the Eastern Cape is the result of this province's education department's decision to try and solve its financial crisis by cutting teaching posts. "Both FEDSAS and the SAOU would have preferred to solve the problem through negotiation and cooperation, but this department is a law unto itself," said Colditz and Klopper.

Colditz has confirmed again that the State has a constitutional duty to provide education. "Saying that there is not enough money available is not an excuse. If the provincial department is no longer able to manage education in the Eastern Cape, the national department of basic education has to step in."

Colditz and Klopper said FEDSAS and the SAOU are prepared to work with the department to solve problems and to provide quality education. "However, we serve the needs of the learners, teachers and our members. If we have to go to court we will not hesitate"

(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school governing bodies of public schools and supports quality education in these schools. Some 1100 public schools are already members of FEDSAS).

Statement issued by Mr Paul Colditz, CEO: FEDSAS, and Mr Chris Klopper, CEO: SAOU, February 10 2011

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