90 schools join court action against state

NINETY Eastern Cape public schools have joined an “opt-in” high court class action to force the department to fill hundreds of vacant teacher posts and repay them R81.4-million they claim to have paid in hiring the teachers themselves.

She said a collective agreement signed by the department and labour unions in February this year set March 2014 as the deadline for teachers in excess to be redeployed.

This date had slid to April 30, then to May 5, then to May 25, and again to May 30.

By last week, six months into the school year, there was still no sign of progress.

“There is little indication that the movement of educators will take place within this school year or when it will ever be implemented.

“The department shows a callous disregard for the rights of the learners to an education. Year upon year it gives the same excuse.

“The financial and educational loss to schools and learners is simply ignored.”

On July 31, the 90 schools will ask the court to give the department just 60 days to pay out the R81.4-million.

It also wants the court to direct it to fill all their vacant posts and give permanent posts to temporary teachers.