TVET lecturers may face the axe
A number of TVET staff could face retrenchment this year.
HUNDREDS of Technical Vocational Education and Training College staff could possibly face the axe, following plans to retrench more than 136 lecturers and 36 support staff due to the apparent decrease in the number of students enrolled for 2017.
After some TVET staff had reportedly been served with letters terminating their services, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in KZN responded, saying the decision to retrench TVET staff is ‘shocking’.
SATDU provincial deputy secretary, Bheki Shandu, said about 30 of those lecturers and support staff are from TVETs in the Ugu district.
This despite the Department of Education making a further R4.5-billion funding provision through NSFAS for 200 000 TVET college students.
“Furthermore, the department reminded TVET principals that their 2016/17 funding will be maintained with consumer price index adjustment for the 2017/2018 financial year. This, then, doesn’t warrant any loss of jobs.”
A statement issued earlier by SADTU read: “Although it’s common knowledge that the number of staff members depends on the number of registered students, it remains unacceptable.”
They are now demanding all discussions to be put on hold and the Minister of Higher Education and Training to intervene and stop all retrenchment discussions.
“This does not only represent a retreat to a commitment on war against skills shortage, but also fights against the government’s efforts to create jobs to increase economic development in the country,” reads the statement.
SADTU also wants management of these colleges to refrain from irrationally cutting enrolment figures under the false claims of underfunding from the Department of Higher Education and Training.
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