By More Matshediso
Pretoria - The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education says it has accepted an apology from the Road Forum and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) for disrupting schools in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces respectively.
Portfolio committee Chairperson, Nomalungelo Gina, on Friday said the portfolio committee was satisfied with its recent oversight visits to the districts of Kuruman in the Northern Cape, and Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.
The Road Forum began protesting in Kuruman in June, demanding a 130-km stretch of road in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality be tarred. Protesters stopped learners and educators from going to school and some school buildings were burned. Reports from the province said 16 000 learners at 54 schools were affected.
According to Gina, the Road Forum has accepted responsibility for school disruptions in the Joe Morolong District, while in Sterkspruit, Sadtu admitted to chasing district officials away from schools since March 2014.
Sadtu also chased away the provincial portfolio committee two weeks ago.
“The organisation apologised and said this was a genuine mistake, and that Sadtu had even communicated the error to the Speaker of the EC Legislature, Ms Noxolo Kiviet,” Gina said.
Gina said the most fulfilling aspect was that communication channels had been re-opened among all stakeholders concerned in the school disruptions.
She said both the Road Forum and teacher’s union showed responsible and mature leadership by not only apologising but also committing to being part of a solution in both districts.
“Now that everybody is happy, we can all turn our focus on ensuring quality learning and teaching,” Gina said.
The portfolio committee urged everyone involved in education to put aside their personal differences and work towards improving education of the African child.
“We should all move forward and ensure improvements to the education of the African child. Apologising is not an easy thing and the committee is grateful for it. It is encouraging to see that all stakeholders are committed to quality education,” Gina said. - SAnews.gov.za
