The two years of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in learners falling behind the curriculum and some learners leaving the school system.
Dr Rufus Poliah, Chief Director for National Assessment and Public Examinations said the pandemic led to some parts of the school curriculum not being taught and changed how learners were being assessed.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) responded by introducing the Learning Recovery Programme, with the aim of getting the Education Sector back on track. However, the South African Democratic Teachers Union has raised a few concerns.
In a statement, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) explained:
Some of the initiatives of the programmes come with the highest levels of exploitation of teachers who must teach weekends, afternoon and holiday classes without any added salaries.
This is one of the strategies that the DBE has outlined to ensure that it recoups lost time, covering all parts of the school curriculum and achieving better outcomes.
It is said that these long hours could have a negative effect on the mental and physical wellbeing of teachers and learners, which could lead to a possible burn out and breakdown of both parties.
Another issue that has been a headache for teachers is the issue of overcrowded classrooms that have led to parents shutting down schools, asking for answers from the Education Department.
SADTU is looking for a way to bring this to an end, to ensure that the improved performance of learners doesn't come at the expense of teachers.
