Admin
24 Jan, 2020
Signing of indemnity in schools must be reviewed: Enoch Mpianzi’s incident
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation is as shocked as President Cyril Ramaphosa would be, at the total negligence at Parktown Boys High, where a young boy named Enoch Mpianzi lost his life during their trip at Ngathi River and Bush lodge. We ask ourselves a question, why there was no roll call before the children stepped into the bus and at the site before resuming activities. This type of negligence leaves much to be desires and it is totally unacceptable. The UDEMWO calls all stakeholders to take their task serious, for example; the teachers should take full responsibility for the children. This brings us to the question of indemnity! Why parents must sign indemnity when children embark on school outings? What is the role of the teachers during school outings? By signing the indemnity, parents are signing death warranties for their children as the teachers shack their responsibility and leave the children to their own peril. UDEMWO calls for the signing of indemnity in schools to be reviewed as this puts the lives of the children at risk with no one taking responsibility. Children are entrusted to the teachers and teachers should be held accountable. The UDEMWO calls on all involved to be held accountable and legal actions to be taken to serve as an example to all others in the profession. We are saddened by this incident, we send our warmest and deepest condolences to the Mpianzi’s family. Issued by: Thandi Nontenja UDMWO Secretary General
Admin
06 Nov, 2019
A teacher dies: Keiskammahoek tragedy
The United Democratic Movement is disheartened by the sad news of the passing of an educator at Sivuyile Primary School in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape. The video of a heated argument between an Educator and a learner started circulating on social media late last week. The UDM is truly disappointed by this behaviour of the learner which is rapidly becoming a norm in our schools. The parents are to blame for allowing their children to take mobile phones to schools and the Department of Basic Education as well for failing to come to the rescue of the teachers who are subjected to the trauma of being abused by the learners. The teachers are not safe in schools and there is very little that they can do to instill discipline to rude learners. As a result of this emotional abuse they are exposed to, they end up being victims of depression. As of now, there are quite a number of educators whose attendance is regular because of the depression. The learners know it is not acceptable to bring phones in school premises but they continue to bring them because they are aware that the educators irrespective of whatever provocation there is very little that they can do. The learners have rights. An educator cannot confiscate a mobile phone from a learner in a classroom without being chastised. The UDM calls on the Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade to take educators into confidence on his plan that he has that will prevent this from happening again. The death of this educator must be really a wake-up call for the education stakeholders and the Country as a whole. Many Educators are experiencing depression due to the conditions they undergo whilst on duty. May the Soul of the late Educator rest in eternal peace. Issued by: Mr Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
Admin
13 Oct, 2017
UDM’s wishes to the matric class of 2017
The United Democratic Movement congratulates the matric class of 2017 for staying the course and, staying in school! Pursuing education will give you significantly more options over the course of your life. Set goals and work hard to achieve them. Past question papers, available on the Department of Education’s website, can help you gauge your preparedness and identify subjects that need more work. Manage you time well and be well rested before writing a test by sleeping seven to eight hours the preceding night. You may be stressed, tired and get distracted, but stay focussed, work hard and persevere. Your success is the country’s success, for you will lead tomorrow and take South Africa forward. As James Allen says about a positive attitude: “Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results”. Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP UDM Deputy President and Chief Whip
Admin
12 Sep, 2017
Learner gang raped by her teachers
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation is shocked about reports of a viral video, where a principal and two teachers are gang raping a school girl in KwaZulu-Natal. This act is too insane and disgusting to even contemplate. Parents send their children to school in the hope that, while learning, they are safe. But, these depraved individuals proved us wrong. Even the head of the school, who is supposed to lead by good example, appears to be involved. Not long ago a video was circulated on social media of a teenage girl being assaulted by a male student. No wonder we witness such behaviour from the young men; they think it is a “good thing” because they learnt it from their elders. What kind of generation are we raising? It is also immoral and disturbing that some person/s actually recorded the crime and did not even help the girl! To say we are disappointed is an understatement, we are totally shaken. What is going on in our schools? It’s no longer just a case of plain ill-discipline of teachers and/or learners. Sex and violence have invaded our places of learning. Our children, especially girls, are under siege and the authorities must act speedily and definitively to protect them. The Department of Education must take action against teachers who abuse their positions of trust; but suspension of immoral individuals is not enough. Justice must take its course and any teacher found to have violated the trust of our children, in any form, must be given the harshest punishment described in law. Such punishment would be a lesson to any educator who sinks so low. We call on any witnesses to come forward so that the police can quickly establish the identities of the people involved, not only for the sake of arresting the culprits, but also so that this poor child may be counselled for the trauma she has suffered. End
Admin
06 May, 2015
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Vote 14 on Basic Education
ADDRESS BY Ms CN Majeke MP Hon Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. However we want to drive home the following important issues for the department to pay the necessary attention to. • As part of consolidating the transformation of the basic education sector and improve the quality of product thereof, the department should seriously consider the taking over the Early Childhood Development from the Department of Social Development and integrate this phase of education into the mainstream. • As a country, we need an education system that is integrated and seamless with a curriculum that talks to each other. This approach takes into consideration the fact that cognitive development of a child takes place during the years of early childhood development. • The capturing of accurate and reliable data on teachers across the country needs to be improved by the South African Council of Educators. In order to assist SACE in this regard, the department must attend to the continued outcry from SACE regarding the timing of funds received from the department. • Whilst SACE receives complaints with regard to relationships between learners and teachers, resulting in pregnancy and a possibility of young girls dropping out of the schooling system, SACE does not have authority to request DNA to verify such allegations. In this regard, we are of the view that the relevant regulatory framework that does not give this authority to SACE should be investigated for possible amendments. • The Department of Education reported through the “School Realities 2011”, that almost 50% of pupils who enrolled for Grade 10 in 2011did not reach Grade 12 in 2013. This is surely a cause for great concern in particular given that there is no subsequent reports about their where about with respect to continued Human Capital Development Plan for the country. It is our firm view, that both the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training should look at this situation and find concrete solution to the problem. • It maybe that some of these would be eligible to exit to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training and if this is not the case, something needs to be done urgently. • The Council for Higher Education proposed for undergraduate curriculum reform in 2013. This was based on the fact that many of the students who enter Higher Education for a three year degree do not complete their studies. Once again, both departments should cooperate in dealing with these critical challenges confronting our education system and Human Capital Development Programme. I thank you. End
Admin
29 Aug, 2014
Eastern Cape: Education budget vote – Speech by the Honourable Mpulu in the Eastern Cape Legislature
• Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker • Honourable Premier and the Executive • Honourable members of the legislature • Officials present here • Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen Honourable Speaker I wish to indicate that I have observed a defeatist image in the Department of Education, but when you come close you can see that there are greater strides achieved both politically and administratively. We were at time of celebrating stability and progress in this department until we were informed that the head of department was suspended. There are four institutions in South Africa that you always avoid if you still love your career; it is SAFA, SABC, department education and department of health in the Eastern Cape. Honourable speaker it is a known fact that every effective and performing organisation needs permanency, those who are charged by acting responsibility have no full mandate because they themselves operate under as induced cloud, first they must prove to their predecessors that they have not always being eyeing their jobs so they would not want to make drastic action to tamper with their legacy lest they come become with venom. But the dichotomy is that they don’t want to rock the boat for the incumbent and that creates a state of vacillation. We are particularly not please by the lack permanency in the department, we wish to appeal to the MEC that post needs to filled with speed notwithstanding the pending matters in terms of labour relations. Honourable Speaker the second issue that we are keen to raise is that this department must be given space to focus on its core business, it is not pleasing to discover that some of the problems are logistically problems that relates to education such as the construction of schools. The non-payment of teachers remain to be sour point in this department, we are projecting the people in government yet our people are suffering under their watch and the sad part about the whole situation is the fact this perennial issues are issues that we have control over but teachers who have served with their sweat can look back and enjoy their retirement and the department put on the health and some might die if before they see their monies. What is more frustrating Honourable speaker is the non-payment of teachers in budgeted post, where get employed and months pass without remuneration. This cannot accepted at all. Honourable Speaker I might have missed this issue of rural allowance and I notice there little mention if any. The UDM is particular interest in whether this issues do have a positive impact in attracting good teachers in the rural areas. The UDM welcomes the EPWP programme that is geared towards ensuring that the education sector contributes to job creation, however Honourable Speaker we think that a more comprehensive approach could be implemented to make sure that these opportunities can be sustained even when the EPWP coffers dries up. We wish to call upon the department to rethink the strategic intervention of these jobs. They cannot be left in the manner where the department has allocated because have a potential to be a sour point in the school.
