Who benefits from the culling of 2,407 teaching posts in the Western Cape? When they target our children's education, it is the first salvo of a greater oppressive genocide, says the writer.
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By Wesley Neumann
Who benefits from the culling of 2,407 teaching posts in the Western Cape? When they target our children's education, it is the first salvo of a greater oppressive genocide, says the writer.
Today I write to you not just as an educator who has faced significant challenges but as someone deeply invested in the broader struggle for justice, equity, and the well-being of our children.
A grave development has come to light that demands immediate and collective action. The DA-led Western Cape Government plans to dismiss 2,407 teachers due to a staggering R3.79 billion shortfall in the education budget over the next three years.
This crisis only exists because the provincial government only utilise 43% of the 48% equitable share received from the national government for education.
Recently, the Western Cape Government received an additional R850 million from the provincial treasury to address this crisis, yet it continues to refuse to prioritise education.
These are not random cuts they are calculated and deliberate acts of sabotage aimed at dismantling the very fabric of our communities.
The end game is clear to deepen inequality, entrench oppression, and perpetuate a system that thrives on the disempowerment of the masses.
Education is the only weapon of liberation, and its destruction is the opening salvo of a broader social genocide.
This decision is not merely a budgetary adjustment; it is a direct attack on the quality of education and the future of our learners. The numbers are stark and alarming:
These figures reveal a troubling prioritisation that undermines the very foundation of our education system. If the province allocated the national funds designated for education appropriately, we could hire thousands of extra teachers instead of cutting existing positions.
This reallocation reflects not just a mismanagement of resources but a profound disregard for the educators and learners who are the backbone of our society.
The current situation raises critical questions:
The education system should not operate in isolation from the realities of the communities it serves. Policies that ignore these realities risk alienating and disempowering those who are tasked with implementing them.
The planned dismissal of thousands of teachers is not just a statistic; it represents thousands of classrooms that will be left without guidance, thousands of learners who will be deprived of quality education, and countless communities that will feel the ripple effects of this decision.
I believe education is more than just the transfer of knowledge. It is a transformative process that fosters critical thinking, compassion, and a sense of justice.
Yet, when educators are punished for exercising these values, and when budgets are slashed at the expense of our children's futures, it sends a chilling message.
It discourages others in the profession from speaking out, even when their actions are motivated by care and integrity. This culture of fear and neglect is harmful not only to educators but to learners as well, who look to us as role models.
To my comrade educators, I urge you to remain steadfast in your principles. Remember that we are not just teachers or principals we are mentors, protectors, and advocates.
Our role extends beyond the classroom walls. It is our duty to stand up for what is right, to challenge injustice, and to create safe and nurturing environments for our learners. We must collectively oppose decisions that undermine our profession and the quality of education.
The systematic targeting of our children's education is not just an attack on learning; it is the opening act of a broader, oppressive agenda.
Education is the foundation of opportunity, empowerment, and progress. When it is deliberately undermined, it signals the onset of a greater, more destructive plan to suppress and control communities.
We must recognise this for what it is a calculated effort to dismantle our future and stand united to resist it at every level.
To the students, parents and guardians, your role in this struggle is invaluable. You are not just stakeholders in the education system; you are its backbone.
Your voices, united with ours, can demand accountability and ensure that decisions affecting your children’s futures are made with care, integrity, and in the best interests of all.
We need your support now more than ever to challenge these detrimental budget cuts.
Change begins with a conversation, but it is sustained by action. I stand ready to continue this fight not just for myself but for every educator, learner, and parent who believes in the transformative power of education.
Together, we can challenge this unjust decision to the retrenchment of 2,407 teaching posts in the Western Cape and build a future where our schools reflect the values we hold dear: compassion, justice, and a commitment to the greater good.
Aluta Continua.
Wesley Neumann,
Secretary,
Special Action Committee - Education
(SAC)
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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