Teacher unions’ participation in policy making: a South African case study

Govender, Logan

doi:10.1080/03057925.2013.863070

Cited by 6 publications

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“…Although a law was passed to increase salary scale increase of teachers, it was never implemented and teachers currently face dire economic conditions. In addition, Murillo et al (2002) South African Schools Act (Govender, 2015). SADTU improved its policy expertise and preserved its independence, while NAPTOSA, being autonomous and advocating for teacher professionalism, became a legal trade union, formed political alliances, and balanced between unionism and professionalism.…”

Section: External Political Pressure Influencing Union-government Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Struggle of Lebanese Teacher Unions in a Neoliberal Period

Ghosn¹,

Akkary²

2020

REAL

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Article InfoTeacher unions worldwide are being criticized for disregarding their responsibility as professionals towards education and students. Critics have claimed that teacher unions tend to protect incompetent teachers, place their own needs and interests above their students, and continuously demand for financial increases even when there is more urgency to elevate teacher professionalism and improve teacher quality. This statement does not take into consideration the political, social and economic aspects that influence unions' decisions. Therefore, this study utilizes a qualitative research design, specifically a grounded theory approach to investigate the challenges facing teacher unions in Lebanon from the perspective of union leaders and union members. Data was collected from seventeen public school union leaders and twenty-one teachers. Findings have revealed that teacher unions have assumed a social justice role limited to raising awareness. There are organizational, legal, political, educational, social, and economic barriers that prevent teacher unions in Lebanon from assuming a more active role as a union.

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Section: External Political Pressure Influencing Union-government Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Struggle of Lebanese Teacher Unions in a Neoliberal Period

Ghosn¹,

Akkary²

2020

REAL

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“…Makuwa, Ross, Saito, Dolata and Van Capelle, 2011). This context has given rise to strong scholarly and political debates about how teachers can be held accountable and whether unions subvert or enable professionalism and accountability in education (Kanjee and Sayed, 2013;Govender, 2015;Spaull, 2015).…”

Section: Literature Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different rules for different teachers: teachers’ views of professionalism and accountability in a bifurcated education system1

Hoffman¹,

Sayed²,

Badroodien³

2016

Journal of Education

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This paper reports the initial results from a representative survey of teachers in the WesternCape regarding their views of professionalism and accountability. This is the first survey ofits kind in South Africa. Preliminary analysis of the data from 115 public schools suggeststhat teachers at no-fee schools, who are predominantly black women, report facing thegreatest institutional burdens and the greatest need for institutional support, particularlyfrom the state. Related to this, they tend to stress pastoral care-work as central to being aprofessional, while those at fee-paying schools stress their claims to pedagogical knowledgeand job prestige. This indicates that teachers at different schools are subject to different andunequal institutions (or rules), where the kind of school that teachers work at often reflectstheir race and gender positioning. It also implies that the concept of a bifurcated educationsystem, characterised by different production functions and outcomes for learners, shouldbe expanded to include teachers and deepened to include institutions.

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“…According to [3], quality learner attainment will remain an unrealistic dream of the Department of Basic Education (as it is currently known) if union activities are not regulated properly. Again, [4] pursues her argument by asserting that during this post-apartheid era, teacher unions must change their strategies and begin to address issues of school productivity and efficiency. [5] add those mechanisms for performance management, discipline and dealing with the factors listed above are significant in the sense that they influence the way teacher unions operate, how schools' function and how educators conduct themselves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teacher trade unions, unionization of novice teachers, implications for professional development in South Africa

Makoa,

Segalo

2023

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The object of research: In this research paper a critique of teacher trade unionism as a political mechanism and its impact on newly qualified teachers’ dilemmas is presented. Investigated problem: Political power is inherently viewed as platform through which critical decisions on education matters are made. Some of these political decisions are, but not limited to teacher professional development and career advancements. Though the aim of teacher trade unions is to salvage the rights of the teachers in the profession, the historical development of teacher trade unions suggest that they act as political vanguard of the working class. The main scientific results: This qualitative study probed the current state and nature of teacher trade unionism have and implications for novice teachers in the sense that it does not encourage professional development, rather, political one. The results of this study confirm and demonstrates that the choice of novice educators to join a trade union of their choice is intrinsically linked to the career pathways the trade unions can offer rather than what trade unions are able to offer in their careers. The area of practical use of the research results: The study is of importance to South African novice teachers who are engaged in teacher professional development programs. Innovative technological product: The results of this study made it possible to outline strategic directions for the introduction of digital technologies that will enhance teacher professional development. The results of this study further stresses that the lack of resources which impedes teacher professional development. Scope of the innovative technological product: The result of the study concerns the implementation of professional development initiatives, that will require the integration of information and communications technology in the professional development process, stressing policy as an imperative point of departure.

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Teacher unions’ participation in policy making: a South African case study

Abstract: When the above article was first published online, the quote on pages 12-13 was mistakenly attributed to a member of NAPTOSA. This has since been corrected to PPCE.The author sincerely regrets this error.

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

The Struggle of Lebanese Teacher Unions in a Neoliberal Period

The Struggle of Lebanese Teacher Unions in a Neoliberal Period

Different rules for different teachers: teachers’ views of professionalism and accountability in a bifurcated education system1

Teacher trade unions, unionization of novice teachers, implications for professional development in South Africa

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