School history debate hots up
KZN Premier has called for robust debate on history enforcement.
KWAZULU-NATAL Premier Senzo Mchunu says introducing history as a compulsory subject at school needs further debate.
He was responding to the South African Democratic Teachers Union’s (SADTU) call at the KZN conference that history must be made a compulsory subjects for all pupils at schools in the country.
‘I fully respect this view as a citizen of this country, but we need to engage this matter further. If we introduce the subject to those learners who are passionate about it, obviously this will make a great deal of sense.
‘But we also need to think about those who are passionate about maths and science, and ask ourselves whether such an enforcement will help them reach their dreams of becoming scientists and IT experts,’ Mchunu said.
He said there were other ways of learning about history without ‘enforcing the subject’.
SADTU’s North Coast Regional Secretary, Makhayandile Madikane, remains adamant that history must be made compulsory.
‘This is one resolution taken at our provincial conference in Durban, and this has been adopted by our National General Council. We will be going to the national conference in October where this resolution will be adopted.
‘The truth of the matter is that there is very little about the history of this country or Africa as a whole, taught in schools. We have been subjected to European history for years now, and it cannot continue like that. This is what must be corrected,’ Madikane said.
‘All our learners need to know where we come from as a country, from the dark days of apartheid to a now democratic dispensation.
‘We also need to encourage writers who will give a true reflection of what South Africa is all about,’ he said.
Overtime
Madikane said the conference also noted that teachers who were working overtime were not being remunerated by the Department of Education.
‘Matric students are now attending school from Monday to Sundays, and they are being taught by teachers who are now working seven days a week, or extra hours.
‘We feel strongly that labour laws must be applied in terms of remunerating overtime.’
