The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the biggest union in the education and public service sectors shall, for the first time in its history, launch a national student chapter.

The launch will be the culmination of a two-day SADTU Student Chapter National Imbizo to be held during this youth month from the 28th-29th of June. This is a realisation of the 2017 National General Council resolution that considered an 8th National Congress decision to establish the SADTU Student Chapter made up of student teachers from institutions of higher learning in order to, among others, create a second layer of membership. Further, it aims to represent and assist students in the teaching practice phase, educate them about their labour rights and other matters within the sector as part of preparing them to enter the system while complementing the Progressive Youth Alliance (DENOSA Student Movement, Young Communist League of South Africa and the ANC Youth League) in institutions of higher learning as led by SASCO.

From 2017 to date, Student Chapters have been established in Institutions of higher learning across all nine provinces. Close to three hundred delegates from these institutions are expected to attend the Imbizo to launch the National Student Chapter. The President of SADTU, Magope Maphila, General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, Deputy Minister of High Education, Science and Technology, Buti Manamela are some of the speakers to address the Imbizo.

The Imbizo will afford delegates an opportunity and platform to express their views and observations about the future of the teaching profession and scrutinise the various education policies with the view of positioning themselves in the ongoing struggle towards ensuring the decolonisation of education.

The Imbizo will take place as follows:

Venue: Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg

Dates: 28 and 29 June 2023

Time: 9am on Day 1, 28 June.

The media are invited to attend and cover the event. To confirm attendance, contact Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

CONTACT: Medi