Teachers disrupt schools' programme

Staff Writer | Thursday October 14, 2010 00:00

 

While negotiations are still taking place for overtime payment to be made for working undefined hours, impatient teachers last month began implementing the eight hour programme thus disrupting classes and affecting the double shift system as well as sporting activities in some schools.

Speaking yesterday Bakwena said that they wished the teachers had not taken the decision to start working eight hours when the talks were still ongoing. 'What has happened worries us a lot but we are nearing the end of the discussions on the matter but I don't want to specifically state a timeline,' she said.

She further stated that DPSM had requested for adjournment to allow them time to understand how to work around the undefined hours that teachers work. 'This is what had delayed us but we are working around the clock to wrap up the discussions on the government side,' she said.

The issue of eight hours for teachers started after the commencement of the new Public Service Act in May 1, 2010. The teachers demanded that they be paid for the overtime as they work undefined hours. DPSM had earlier revealed that they discussed the issue with the teachers' organisations but asked for time to ask for a mandate to work out an allowance from cabinet.