Calls for unions to work closer with FET colleges

Friday, October 26, 2012

Johannesburg - Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) to have concrete partnerships with the department around FET colleges.

Addressing the 2012 SADTU National General Council on Friday, Nzimande encouraged SADTU to assign dedicated union members to focus on policies at FET colleges.

"Our goal is to have three FET students per one university student to tackle millions of young people who are not at school," Nzimande said.

SADTU President, Thobile Ntola, called for the end to the phenomenon of temporary teachers in all the provinces, urging union members to take a serious stance against temporary teachers.

"We should demand proper adequate infrastructure in our schools and investment to basic education in particular to Grade R to Grade 9," Ntola said, adding that the teacher/pupil ratio should be improved to reduce the work load.

Nzimande said the department has allocated R5 billion for infrastructure and equipment at FET colleges for the next three years. - SAnews.gov.za