Teachers must make public proud - Cosatu
2011-10-10 21:31
Johannesburg - Teachers must overcome challenges at schools to provide a service worthy of citizens' pride, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sidumo Dlamini said on Monday.
"We are saying a [Cosatu] member who is a public servant must do everything to make our people proud," he said in a speech prepared for delivery at a Limpopo SA Democratic Teachers' Union conference.
"This will go a long way to reclaim our credibility and win the sympathy of the public in other campaigns."
He said teachers were faced with a lack of resources and system inadequacies every day, but should not use this as an excuse.
"This must not be used to explain why people dodge work or sleep at work... or come late to work or instruct people to go back to their homes when they are already in a queue.
Black schools were particular cause for concern as the legacy of apartheid remained in the lack of libraries and laboratories, he said.
Cosatu hoped to launch an alliance-led education campaign in Limpopo soon, focusing on school functionality and training programmes.
"We must confront the fact that achieving decent work will come with achieving quality education training programmes for the children of the working class."
Dlamini said unions should work together to improve the attitude and ethos of their members in the public service.
A specific focus would be the 55% of teachers who would leave the profession if they had an opportunity to do so.
- SAPA
