Teachers have refused to administer the Annual National Assessments in defiance of an instruction from the government.
The national Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on Tuesday that grades 1 to 9 would sit for the ANA tests from yesterday until December 4.
However, the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and other unions have instructed members not to take part.
The assessments, which test pupils in languages and mathematics, were due in September, but were postponed.
The unions, which argue that the ANA do not assist pupils, deadlocked with the state.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke confirmed that union members were instructed not to assist with the ANA yesterday.
“We call on all our members to defy and demand that we all be charged. We are more than prepared to defend education and protect the future our children.”
A principal at an East London school said: “We are the ones that are in trouble because we have to get these children to write. But then the problem is that they are not even at school.
“Some have already left for holidays and are in the rural areas.”
A principal from a Mdantsane school said it was likely that only former Model C schools would run the tests.
A King William’s Town teacher said: “Our children are not writing. It’s too late now to prepare.”
Teachers at some former Model C schools declined to comment.
National Professional Teachers’ Union of SA (Naptosa) provincial CE Peter Duminy said his union was abiding by a joint statement released by unions. The signatories are Sadtu, Naptosa, Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU), National Teachers’ Union and the Professional Teachers’ Union. “This response covers SAOU and Naptosa in the Eastern Cape,” said Duminy.
In the statement, dated Wednesday this week, they declared: “The unions remain committed to remodeling ANA.
“We are thus left with no choice but to revert to our original position, which is that our members will not be taking part in any ANA-related activity in its current form in 2015.
“This is our collective decision as labour and we will not be intimidated by the employer to ... implement what is clearly a flawed instrument.
“The ANA will not be reduced into a tender on our watch.”
They said the DBE withdrew from the deal when it refused to make the ANA voluntary.
DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said Minister Angie Motshekga had not walked away from the mediation process.
“On Friday last week the DBE was ready to sign the draft agreement, which would have seen only 2100 schools writing the assessments.
“However, at that point the new condition of voluntary participation was insisted upon and the mediation process was jeopardised.”
Mhlanga said mediation was to ensure peace and stability, and the ANA was a curriculum issue, not a labour issue.
Mhlanga regretted no agreement was reached in the mediation process and would comment no further as he did not want a “public spat” with unions.
No ANAs on our watch – teachers
The national Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on Tuesday that grades 1 to 9 would sit for the ANA tests from yesterday until December 4.
However, the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and other unions have instructed members not to take part.
The assessments, which test pupils in languages and mathematics, were due in September, but were postponed.
The unions, which argue that the ANA do not assist pupils, deadlocked with the state.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke confirmed that union members were instructed not to assist with the ANA yesterday.
“We call on all our members to defy and demand that we all be charged. We are more than prepared to defend education and protect the future our children.”
A principal at an East London school said: “We are the ones that are in trouble because we have to get these children to write. But then the problem is that they are not even at school.
“Some have already left for holidays and are in the rural areas.”
A principal from a Mdantsane school said it was likely that only former Model C schools would run the tests.
A King William’s Town teacher said: “Our children are not writing. It’s too late now to prepare.”
Teachers at some former Model C schools declined to comment.
National Professional Teachers’ Union of SA (Naptosa) provincial CE Peter Duminy said his union was abiding by a joint statement released by unions. The signatories are Sadtu, Naptosa, Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU), National Teachers’ Union and the Professional Teachers’ Union. “This response covers SAOU and Naptosa in the Eastern Cape,” said Duminy.
In the statement, dated Wednesday this week, they declared: “The unions remain committed to remodeling ANA.
“We are thus left with no choice but to revert to our original position, which is that our members will not be taking part in any ANA-related activity in its current form in 2015.
“This is our collective decision as labour and we will not be intimidated by the employer to ... implement what is clearly a flawed instrument.
“The ANA will not be reduced into a tender on our watch.”
They said the DBE withdrew from the deal when it refused to make the ANA voluntary.
DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said Minister Angie Motshekga had not walked away from the mediation process.
“On Friday last week the DBE was ready to sign the draft agreement, which would have seen only 2100 schools writing the assessments.
“However, at that point the new condition of voluntary participation was insisted upon and the mediation process was jeopardised.”
Mhlanga said mediation was to ensure peace and stability, and the ANA was a curriculum issue, not a labour issue.
Mhlanga regretted no agreement was reached in the mediation process and would comment no further as he did not want a “public spat” with unions.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos