Pupils teach each other while teachers strike

By Mandilakhe Tshwete

Cape Flats pupils have decided to teach each other while their teachers are on a wage strike.

Grade 12 pupils, who say they have already missed out on a lot of lessons due to the World Cup two months ago, say they haven't got much time to waste with teachers striking.

On Wednesday, Joe Slovo Engineering School matriculants in Khayelitsha opted to work on their physics lessons when teachers told them to go home.

Student Luyanda Dokolwana, 18, said they had their futures to think of.

"We have to go over the syllabus with Physical Science, but we can't do that without the teachers," he said.

"We got to school yesterday morning and the teachers who were at school said they are on strike and we should go home.

"But we decided to stay in school and practise physics."

He added that even though they attended Saturday classes during the six-week break for the World Cup, they still feel more classes will help them pass the exams.

Another Grade 12 learner, Simon Bizo, said trial exams were around the corner and they were not sufficiently prepared.

"If the teachers can come back to school and help us, then we will be prepared for the exams," he said.

"We need more than learners teaching each other, we need our teachers."

Meanwhile, in Mitchells Plain, it looked like business as usual at most schools with almost all of the area?s schools operating as normal.

And in the city centre, National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) members marched through the streets.

A public servant tells the Daily Voice they hope future marches will be better attended.

Public servants are demanding a wage increase of 8.6 percent and a R1 000 housing allowance, but the government is standing firm with its 7 percent increase and R700 housing subsidy offer. - Daily Voice