ANC YOUTH LEAGUE GAUTENG STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN GAUTENG
The ANC Youth League in Gauteng is appalled and disappointed by recent developments in the education sphere in Gauteng. These include irresponsible and reckless statements attributed to the principal of Meadowlands High School Moss Senye, who is also the regional chairperson of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) and the call by student movement COSAS for learners to retaliate when they are hit by teachers. We take a dim view to the conduct displayed by Senye which has exposed him as a leader in need of a crash course in leadership skills.
His statements directed at Education MEC Barbara Creecy are irresponsible and must be strongly condemned by all South Africans.
We welcome the clarity provided by the leadership of SADTU at national level, distancing the teacher union from Senye's disgusting remarks. We want to warn people of Senye's ilk that a union membership is not a license to behave like anarchists. Further to that, union leadership brings with it huge responsibilities and this demands of those who are entrust with high office in this regard to conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity. There's no room for people like Senye in this democracy and the masses must shun them.
We are particularly concerned about what appears to be a decline in standard and discipline of education in Soweto. We call on parents, working through School Governing Bodies, to rise and instil order and discipline in schools. Communities can no longer sit idle as our schools degenerate at this rate. A close working relationship between parents, SGBs and the department of education is now needed more than ever before. A close knit relationship between these structures will ensure that all the rotten elements threatening the education system are exposed and isolated.
We wish to compliment all teachers who remain committed to their work and continue to uphold the values of good leadership. We encourage you to continue the good work. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. We further call on learners not retaliate when hit by teachers, but instead report such incidents to the relevant authorities. These rogue elements who abuse learners would therefore be isolated and dealt with according to the law. While teachers have a responsibility to maintain discipline at schools, this doesn't amount to a permission to assault and abuse learners.
Statement issued by ANCYL Gauteng Provincial Secretary Ms Ayanda Kasa-Ntsobi, March 17 2011
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