Educators

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher leave them kids alone
Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone¹

This song comes from the rock opera ‘The Wall’, and is likely one of the most iconic songs of the 1980’s. It was Pink Floyd’s only number one hit. The song was, after a while, banned in South Africa (as was the album The Wall) due to the song being adopted by supporters of a nationwide school boycott protesting racial inequities in education under the apartheid regime.²

As it happens, the song is indeed a protest. Pink, the central character in the opera, lives in a world of mental detachment, brought about by a ‘wall’ he perceives to be around him. In the song, he continues to speak out against the cruel teachers of his childhood, whom he blames for contributing more bricks to that wall.³

The thing is, of course we need education. It is the country’s top priority, almost. After all: Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.⁴

The Employment of Educators Act 1998 concerns just that and also regulates their conditions of service (at least, for State employees) as well as their discipline, retirement and discharge. The Act falls under the authority of the Minister of Basic Education. Schedule 2 to the Act constitutes the Disciplinary Code for Education, and provides for enquiries and hearings in the case of misconduct.

Disciplinary hearings

1. If you are summoned as a witness to a disciplinary hearing, it is a crime not to attend. It is also a crime not to remain in attendance until excused by the chairperson.⁵

2. It is also an offence if, at the hearing, you:

   • refuse to be sworn in, or to take an oath of affirmation;⁶
   • fail to answer questions fully and satisfactorily;⁷ and
   • fail to produce any required book or document.⁸