Sadtu hosts principals

GEORGE NEWS - Principals who are South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) members attended a seminar at the Thusong Centre in Thembalethu on Friday.

Simphiwe Mbalo, the regional secretary, said the goal of the seminar was to work on the relationship between principals and the site shop steward. He explained that each of their schools should have a teacher at the school who is the site shop steward. "This person works together with the principal and looks out for the well-being of the members at the school."

At the seminar they tried to tackle issues such as hair policy, pregnancy rules at school, the appointment of permanent teachers and schools' finances.

He said they want to close the gap and want there to be a common understanding of education laws and all legislation. According to Mbalo, Sadtu is against casual teachers. They want teachers who have the right training and credentials to be employed permanently.

"If a teacher is at a school for a few months and fits in with how the school is run, why remove that teacher? Rather make them permanent." He says Sadtu sees no point in advertising those vacancies at schools where casual teachers fit in with the school organogram.

Jonovan Rustin, Sadtu provincial secretary, talking at the seminar on Friday.

Discussion with principals included how to identify the opportunities and what to look for in the teachers who intern for three to six months. They also want their site shop stewards to assist new principals with matters like finances so that fewer principals will be charged with financial misconduct.

"That is why a big part of the seminar was about school finances. That principals can go to the union representative at the school for advise or even call Sadtu officals to help the school."

Mbalo said the main reason why site shop stewards are at schools is so that their members can know that Sadtu is there for them.

A seminar like this is very important because they do not want their schools to

fail.

"We want them to be on good standard."

Some of the local principals and site shop stewards at the seminar at the Thusong Centre in Thembalethu.