SADTU welcomes KZN Education payout to schools

The union's provincial secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza, says some school principals have confirmed the receipt of funds, while the rest are expected by the end of Friday. 

The payout follows last month's talks between SADTU, KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka over the delays.

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" We are excited by seeing the department making those payments to school. The department now is doing exactly what we had agreed. In fact, what they promised or committed in the meeting we had with the HOD. 

"To us it sends one message that this time around the Department of Education in KZN wanted to ensure that indeed they support teaching and learning." 

Last month's meeting also discussed salary delays and problems with the school nutrition programme.

During the talks, Premier Ntuli pledged to make R900 million available to clear unpaid school grants.

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Now that the money is being paid, Caluza says there needs to be strict oversight.

" We really don't expect, again, to be invited to the picket line. In a situation, we go back to the basics where the Department of Education was prioritising schools because that is where teaching and learning take place, and the core mandate of the department is to ensure that the delivery of quality teaching in all schools.

"So we really wanted that to happen, but it'll only happen when the department, in terms of budgeting, focuses on where things happen, and that is the classroom."

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