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The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal believes that plans by the Department of Education to
take mathematics educators out of schools every Monday to receive training will
lead to severe disruption of teaching and learning at all affected schools.

"It is our view that taking educators out of school will adversely affect
teaching and cause problems in managing unmanned class units. A large number of
schools have more than one educator teaching mathematics and if they are taken
out of school for the day, it will lead to a number of classes without an
educator. To compound the problem many of these educators also teach other
subjects so it is not only mathematics as a subject that will be affected. With
these educators being out of school it will have a ripple effect that will
affect the entire school. Many of our schools have a few educators in terms of
their staff allocation, so even if one educator is out of school the remaining
educators will not be able to manage those classes", said IFP Spokesperson on
Education, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, MPL.

"We also find it difficult to understand how the department plans to finance
this project as it is experiencing spending pressures with regard to its
existing core functions. The department has announced that it will pay educators
for meals and transport. We are aware that many educators will have to travel
long distances to get to the venues where the training will take place. The cost
to the department per year will be enormous. Once again the department has taken
decisions without adequate consultation and not having thought the process
through. Unfortunately it will be learners that will suffer in the long run.
With classes left unattended, discipline will suffer and learners left to their
own devices will be put at risk. We ask the department to re-think this issue
before its implementation", concluded Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa

Issued by the Inkatha Freedom Party