David Joshua
“If you’re a retired educator or a group and you believe you can add value to the lives of our learners and teachers, please make contact.”
This was the invitation that MEC of Education in the Western Cape Cameron Dugmore extended to retired teachers recently.
The Western Cape education department has called for people interested to join a proposed Retired Teachers’ Association (RTA). .
“The ultimate success of the operation will depend on the uptake from retired teachers. We have started to speak to stakeholders like unions and school governing body associations as well as to individuals, and the preliminary responses have been extremely enthusiastic,” said Dugmore.
He also said that the real debate about details, roles, constitution, roll-out and so on will be in the hands of the retired teachers themselves.
He expressed confidence that this exercise will provide a huge resource for schools and for learning, a mass mobilisation of a vital ‘support base’ with much wisdom and talent to contribute and a good place for community plough back.
Dugmore noted that RTA members might want to offer tuition or other help, for example in libraries or with management; help with literacy and numeracy programmes, or even conduct classes at spring or winter schools.
• Retired educators interested in joining, can contact Harry Zass 082-336-2875 or Andiswa Mxhadi 072-444-8845; or email rta@workmail.co.za or fax 086-666-2146.
