BENGU CALL ON TEACHERS NOT TO MISLED AND ALARMED

Issued by: SA Communication Service

MEDIA STATEMENT BY PROF SIBUSISO BENGU, MINISTER OF EDUCATION

I call on teachers not to be misled and alarmed by the recent spate of unfounded rumours about right-sizing, redeployment and the voluntary severance package.

I also call on all who are involved in the process of dealing with this matter, whether they are officials, members of teachers' unions and organisations or reporters, to handle this matter with sensitivity.

These measures will affect the lives of many teachers. All of us have to acknowledge that the situation creates uncertainty and anxiety for many teachers. This is unfortunately part and parcel of a process of rationalisation, but is not necessary to escalate these feelings for ulterior purposes and or reckless rumour mongering.

The measures to effect right-sizing in education has been agreed upon after prolonged negotiations in the Education Labour Relations Council. The State's negotiating team negotiated within the mandate that I gave them.

I have been consistent with regard to the principle of right- sizing and my mandate to our negotiators. The agreement has been signed and I have no intention to deviate from its contents.

Before the agreement can be implemented, two steps must be taken:

• The agreement is a package deal and there are some outstanding matters on which agreement has to be reached. It is planned to conclude agreements on these matters on 18 and 19 June 1996.
• The agreement was published in the Government Gazette of 31 May 1996. It is only after 30 days have elapsed since publication, that I can make the agreement generally applicable to all employers and employees in education.

Once the process has been finalised, official communications on the relevant matters will be made available. We plan to issue brochures on these matters to all teachers.

It is only as the process of redeployment unfolds that many teachers will obtain more clarity about their personal positions. To a large extent the present public debate on these matters are premature.

These teachers deserve empathy and respect and not public posturing and alarmist rumours that deepens their uncertainty and creates anxiety.

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