DA wants education deemed an essential service to prevent strikes
The DA is pushing for limitations to be placed on the right to strike in the education sector, saying school principals must be declared to perform an essential service. Industrial action by teacher unions has become commonplace in South African schools, disrupting the functioning of the schooling system. The ANC has previously called for teaching to be declared an essential service, a move that would effectively limit the right to strike. But this was shot down by teacher unions who described the proposal as unconstitutional. In 2013, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the party would "leave no stone unturned to make teaching an essential service ... Education must be a priority … when you disrupt education you are not threatening life and death, but you are disrupting the future prospects of the country". On Thursday, the DA presented its essential service in education discussion document, which calls for limitations to be placed on the rights of principals to down tools. "...
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