SADTU reject criteria used for selection of markers and enforcement of performance contracts for principals and deputy principals in the Western Cape.

The Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee of SADTU has expressed outrage at the decision of the provincial department of education to unilaterally use competency testing as criteria for in the selection of matric markers in the province.

This action goes against the decision taken at the Inter Provincial Exams and Assessment Council (IPEAC) meeting that there should be no amendment to the existing assessment criteria until the matter was debated centrally at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).

The meeting agreed that criteria as set out in the PAM for markers, was the only instrument to be used in the selection of markers and no province was allowed to expose teachers to a different assessment tool unless there was agreement at a national level.

Furthermore, SADTU Western Cape rejected the70% learner attainment in a subject as entry criteria for selection as a marker in Mathematics, Geography, Physical Science, Accounting and Life Science, etc.

SADTU has called on the WCED to withdraw the examination administration minute 0001/ 2011, circular but the department has refused to do so.

The PEC of SADTU Western Cape has resolved to call on all Educators not to participate in the competency testing and the Matric marking process for 2011 until the unjust criteria is withdrawn

Performance contracts for Principals and Deputy Principals

SADTU has on numerous occasions rejected performance contracts unilaterally enforced on Principals and Deputy Principals in the Western Cape.

We want to repeat that conditions of service are determined by the national minister and not the Premier, Provincial MEC or HOD

Consultation on the Education Management System is currently underway at national level by a task team in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). We are therefore calling on all Principals and Deputy Principals not to sign any job descriptions or performance contracts in the Western Cape until agreement is reached at a national level.

We cannot allow the Western Cape Department of Education to treat the province as a federal state. South Africa is a unitary state and the Western Cape is one of the nine provinces that make up the country. It should therefore take its orders from the national minister.

As the Provincial Executive Committee, we want to reiterate our support for the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign.

Provincial Chairperson: Bongani Mcoyana
Provincial Secretary:  Jonavon Rustin
Provincial Deputy Secretary: Melinda Zass

Statement issued by the SADTU Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee, July 13 2011

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