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SADTU has expressed disappointment over a viral video showing learners eating and drinking in a classroom while one student sat covering his face for not contributing.
In the video, the teacher can be heard saying she cannot help it if the mother of the child did not contribute.
The Union strongly condemned the conduct, stating that they are an entity that defends the rights and dignity of education workers while also upholding the highest professional standards.
“The video has angered members of the community, with close to 800 people marching to the school, Thembalethu Primary in George, Western Cape, this morning, demanding the teacher’s expulsion.
“The conduct displayed in the video negates the very values that educators are expected to embody. An educator is entrusted with the responsibility to care for, protect and nurture every learner equally.
“The apparent humiliation of a learner is completely unacceptable and does not represent the values of the teaching profession,” the statement read.
The union emphasised that the conduct violates the South African Council for Educators (SACE) Code of Professional Ethics, specifically the requirement for educators to respect the dignity, beliefs, and constitutional rights of learners, particularly children.
SADTU calls for calm
Further, it stated that teachers are expected to uphold the rights of learners to privacy and confidentiality, avoid any humiliation, and refrain from any form of abuse – physical and psychological.
“Ironically, the regional office of SADTU in George recently hosted SACE to conduct workshops on professional teacher conduct. These workshops were open to all educators regardless of union affiliation and were aimed at strengthening professionalism and ethical conduct within the sector.”
SADTU called for calm within the community and urged that the matter be handled through proper legal and administrative processes.
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The Union said it will ensure that the Department of Education follows due process in investigating the incident and in taking the necessary steps in line with applicable labour and professional regulations.
“While we defend the rights of educators, we equally believe that professionalism, care, and respect for the dignity of learners must always guide the conduct of educators,” the union remarked.
