By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal’s education crisis saw a breakthrough this week as the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) announced a temporary suspension of its work-to-rule campaign following an agreement with the provincial education department.
“The union suspends its work-to-rule to allow the processing of payments and writing of examinations. The union leadership will continue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer,” Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said.
The move comes after weeks of tension, school-level disruptions and mounting public concern over missed exams and financial instability across the province’s schools.
At the heart of the crisis is a severe funding shortfall, which has left many schools unable to operate effectively.
Some principals resorted to borrowing funds to cover basic operational costs, while teachers paid out of pocket to print exam papers and buy essential supplies.
On Monday, the union met KwaZulu-Natal education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo to discuss a recovery plan.
This meeting followed a crucial engagement with premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who earlier committed R900 million to help rescue the embattled education system.
Ntuli’s intervention came after pressure from Sadtu, the National Teachers’ Union (Natu) and other stakeholders.
He said the R900 million would be disbursed in two phases over three weeks.
The funds are aimed at clearing outstanding 2024 allocations and May 2025 payments, as well as ensuring the June examination cycle could proceed without further disruption.
“All outstanding school payments will be paid within two weeks. The June exams will go ahead without disruption. Discussions on filling critical education posts are underway. As premier, I remain committed to ensuring that teaching and learning continue across KZN,” Ntuli said.
Following the meeting with the HOD, the department presented a revised examination timetable, allowing schools to resume June exams on 18 June.
For schools lacking resources, the department has committed to printing and distributing exam papers.
Caluza confirmed the union’s support for the new plan and welcomed the department’s commitment to make school payments by 4 and 31 July, pending receipt of the premier’s pledged funds.
“We acknowledge the premier’s efforts, but the reality is that schools are still waiting for allocations. The union’s decision to suspend work-to-rule is based on the need to ensure exams proceed and learners aren’t further disadvantaged,” Caluza stated.
While progress has been made, Sadtu continues to push back against the compulsory implementation of standardised “common tests” for underperforming schools, defined by the department as those that scored below 85% in the 2024 National Senior Certificate exams.
The union criticised this practice as costly, bureaucratic and intellectually dismissive of teachers’ professional judgement.
“Imposing these tests undermines teachers. Schools are being told they volunteered, when in reality, they’re being forced. This contradicts the Department of Basic Education’s D3 Circular of 2023,” Caluza said.
The department has now agreed to hold a meeting on 27 June to discuss the future of standardised testing in the province.
The union views recent developments as a partial victory for educators and learners.
“Without our members’ commitment on the picket line, these changes would not have happened,” said Caluza, acknowledging the sacrifices made during the campaign.
Natu general secretary Doctor Ngema echoed this sentiment.
“The premier’s commitment to reviewing compensation for Grade R teachers and ensuring timely payments to National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) providers is a step forward. We are cautiously optimistic,” Ngema said.
However, concerns persist that the R900 million allocated is not sufficient to address the full scope of the department’s backlog.
According to Democratic Alliance education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi, an additional R700 million may be needed to cover all unpaid accruals and operational deficits.
Even as payments are processed, many schools continue to operate under significant strain.
Reports of unpaid municipal bills, insufficient cleaning materials and frozen teacher posts are widespread.
The freezing of key support positions such as clerks, security staff and admin assistants has left schools vulnerable and understaffed.
Provincial education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi acknowledged the crisis but said meaningful engagement with unions had yielded a “common ground” and a shared commitment to solutions.
While the immediate crisis may have eased, stakeholders warn the underlying issues remain.
The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa’s Thirona Moodley stressed that while it was important that June exams were going ahead, it was merely one chapter in a longer story of an education system in distress.
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