Rough year for education in South Africa

Education

2007 has been a rough year on the education front for South Africa as classroom time was marred by disruptions from the public sector strike to protests in Khutsong.

The schooling was marred by a strike that not only led to some schools losing more than 20 days, but one that soured relations between the education department and teacher unions. An across the board increase of 7.5% was gained but issues around the Occupations Specific Dispensation remain largely unresolved.

Unions are not happy with proposals that could see teachers entering the profession, receiving a salary boost. Mary Metcalfe from Wits University says the teachers strike and the way that it was not resolved certainly disrupted education in the middle of the year.

Universities also had their share of protests over fees. There were sometimes violent scenes on campuses - The education department appealed to universities to consider the plight of poor students when making fee adjustments. Community protests over incorporation into the North West focused the country's attention on the children of Khutsong.

They spent close to three months at home, or on the streets clashing with police.