By: Thalente Ncube

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has resolved to initiate its 250 000 members to boycott invigilation of the 2015 Annual National Assessments (ANA) in schools
as trial examinations approaches.

The resolution to boycott the ANAs was adopted by SADTU’s national executive committee (NEC) at its meeting in KwaZulu-Natal from August 26 to August 27 following the lack of
proper consultation between the department and the union.

“The NEC had no option but to adopt a programme of action on all the issues affecting the conditions of employment, including directing all members of SADTU not to administer

ANA until such time that the Department stops taking decisions we never agreed upon,” said General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke.

SADTU on its statement continued to say that the NEC resolved to call upon all members of SADTU to defend education by not overseeing ANA until the department comes to the
consultation table.

“Such an approach is destroying the culture of teaching and learning, because teachers are tired of being undermined and are going to defend themselves with everything they have in
defending education,” added Maluleke.

Pupils are enraged by this call from SADTU to boycott invigilating of students for the upcoming assessments.

However, the pupils who are going to be affected by this inconvenience are grade ones to nine.

“If it happens that we do not write September exams that will have bad impact on our year mark as we approach the end of the year,” said Khulekani Sibiya a grade 9 pupil of
Mandlenkosi High school in Lindelani.

The department had earlier said it is ready to go for the assessments, which are scheduled for September 15 to September 18.

About 8.6 million pupils in grades one to nine will sit down for the exam.

SADTU said it has conducted an analysis of collective agreements of the last five years, and concluded that they are still open for any negotiations should the department be willing to
consult.

Maluleke said the department “has failed” to consult unions on matters relating to the ANA.