Minister must prioritise education
23 February 2022
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) – the biggest union in the education and public services sector – want Finance Minister Gondongwana’s first budget speech to prioritise education.
Last year, SADTU called for a stimulus package for education to ensure that education was equitable and accessible to all and provide long-overdue infrastructure in our schools. We again reiterate this call because the situation remains the same, if not, worse.
The country’s education system was severely affected by the COVID–19 pandemic. Schools had to close in the first few months of the pandemic and later, learners went back on a rotational basis. This robbed many learners of valuable learning and teaching time. However, those in affluent schools managed to continue with their education through remote and blended learning. The pandemic served to further expose the inequalities that exist in education.
Even when schools had to go back, many could not return on time as some could not meet the Covid – 19 safety requirements such as providing water and proper sanitation. Some schools have not met the requirements as they are still not connected to main water supplies.