Motshekga urges support for recovery

2010-10-07 16:33

Johannesburg – Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday urged teachers to support the recovery programme for students after the public sector strike.

"I believe that we need to treat 2011 as an extraordinary year and put in place interventions that can assist in stabilising the educational environment and improve teaching and learning in our schools," Motshekga told the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) congress in Boksburg.

"The aim is to implement these efforts in the 2011 school calendar. An earnest appeal is made to all educators to become involved in the intensive teaching and learning programme so that we can work collectively to improve the learning outcome of the education system."

She also urged Sadtu to contribute to the department's turnaround strategy for education.

She further told teachers to heed the major challenge of intensifying work to deliver quality public education.

"There can be no disagreement on the fact that quality education is inextricably linked to the quality of learning and teaching in the classroom.

Media criticised

Sadtu president Thobile Ntola on Thursday criticised the media for reporting that Motshekga was "booed" at the congress on Wednesday.

"It didn't happen," he said.

On Wednesday, however, after Motshekga was heckled, Ntola told Sadtu members that "heckling and howling" of any person would not be allowed.

"Whether you like it or not comrade Angie is the minister of education. That you must accept," he told the congress.

Motshekga, after the incident, said she was not shocked by the heckling as the dust had not yet settled from the public sector strike.

On Thursday, before Ntola blamed the media for reporting inaccurately on the incident, some delegates booed Motshekga as she exited the congress hall.

- SAPA