DA lays complaint with SAHRC against Sadtu
The stand-off between teach unions, particularly Sadtu, and the Basic Education Minister on the Annual National Assessment was the "last straw" for the Democratic Alliance.
The party has laid a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against the country’s largest teacher union, on the basis that it has violated children’s right to education.
Last week the department announced that the ANA will be written from December 1 to 4 - despite teacher unions refusing to administer the tests.
They argue the assessment, in its current form, is not in the best interest learners nor the provision of quality education and want the ANAs remodelled.
Sadtu maintains its members will boycott the ANAs.
DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education Annette Lovemore says Sadtu has held the Education Department to ransom for far too long.
"We want the SA Human Rights Commission to compare what Sadtu has done over the years with what it believes should be expected by every South African child and to determine whether Sadtu has maligned the South African child's rights to a basic education, "she said.
Before the latest decision to go ahead with the tests, it had been agreed by the Education Department and the unions to hold off on the assessment until at least next year.
In a joint statement this week, five teacher unions Sadtu, Naptosa, Peu, SAOU and Natu said they were disappointed that the department had gone back on the agreement to postpone the ANAs.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)