GOOD Statement by Suzette Little,
GOOD Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
7 April 2024
The GOOD party is outraged by the Western Cape Education Department’s decision to terminate the contracts of several teachers in already under-resourced government schools in vulnerable communities.
In a circular issued by the Department, the Provincial Government indicated that they needed to implement various cost-containment measures, which included not renewing the contracts of teachers.
In many of the struggling and no-fee schools, this has seen teachers having to take on double the work and teach extra subjects for which they are not qualified, or even worse, learners being requested to attend school on alternate days.
This is outrageous and unsurprisingly once again impacts the poor, working class in the province. Moreover, parents were not informed about this development and not aware of its serious implications, showing just how much the DA-led Western Cape really cares.
As always, the Provincial Government has pointed the finger at the National budget cuts.
Yet, its own priorities led to money being moved away from education and pushed towards safety and security, or more specifically, the failing LEAP initiative that is making little progress while putting young lives at risk, all for political gain.
The WCED needs to explain how their so-called pro-poor budget includes taking education away from the most vulnerable children in the province. They need to get their priorities straight.
GOOD demands that this circular be retracted and any educators impacted at vulnerable no-fee schools be reinstated in all areas across the Western Cape.
Media Enquiries:
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za