The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) has released a statement criticising the DA and other\u00a0groups for their negativity leading up to the reveal of the 2016 matric results.<\/p>\n
“This (the matric results) has dispelled the lies peddled by the likes of the DA that Sadtu members in the main are destroying education in this country through their supposed truancy and incompetence,” the union said.<\/p>\n
“Our members have achieved this improvement under trying circumstances, teaching overcrowded classrooms, with limited resources.<\/p>\n
“Over the past few years, Sadtu has been vociferously calling for a more formative assessment that is assessment for learning and less common assessment tasks.\u00a0We believe that what is required is assessment for learning and not just for the sake of end of year statistics”, it said.<\/p>\n
The DA’s Basic Education shadow minister\u00a0Gavin Davis responded to the union, saying that it should not be celebrating these facts.<\/p>\n
“Sadtu uses its influence to block accountability measures, such as performance contracts for principals and professional licencing of teachers. The ever-present threat of a Sadtu stayaway is a very real hindrance to holding poor performing schools to account,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The ‘jobs for cash’ report found that Sadtu had effectively captured six out of nine provincial education departments. It found that Sadtu members are deployed to positions in the departments because of their political connections in the union and the ANC, and not their suitability for the job.”<\/p>\n
The department of education revealed on Wednesday evening that\u00a0the overall matric pass rate figures for the class of 2016 was 72.5% \u2013 1.8 points higher than\u00a02015.<\/p>\n