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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) stop organising union meetings while learners write their final examinations and assessments. SADTU has called for a mass meeting today at 12:00 pm at the Floridalaan Primary School in Eldorado Park.

In a letter seen by the DA, SADTU has called a mass meeting in response to allegations of abuse against an educator at Floridalaan Primary School. This meeting is for all SADTU members in Eldorado Park, which means teachers must leave matric learners writing final examinations unattended to attend the meeting, the same goes for primary school teachers busy with the assessments.

See letter here.

More alarming is that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) received SADTU's request to hold this meeting and granted permission.

While this may align with Chapter G of the Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM), MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, must consider the disruption this will cause to schools and learners in Eldorado Park currently writing examinations and assessments.

It is unacceptable that the MEC, entrusted with ensuring learners receive the quality education they deserve, would disregard examination time by sanctioning this meeting.

Furthermore, SADTU's decision to hold this meeting during this crucial time of the academic year demonstrates its lack of concern for the well-being of our learners, who are already under immense pressure and can barely afford any disruption that can affect their performance.

The DA demands that the MEC and SADTU consider the concerns of parents and learners who are distressed by the timing of this meeting and postpone it. We cannot allow SADTU to prioritise the interests of its members over those of our learners who are currently taking examinations and whom we want to succeed.

The DA will monitor the situation. If this meeting proceeds despite widespread opposition, the DA will be forced to report it to the Human Rights Commission, as it would have violated our learner's right to education guaranteed by the South African constitution.

The DA will continue to fight against anything that disrupts and compromises learners' performance in their examinations and assessments.

Issued by Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education