SAE3701 Assignment 3 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 2 July 2025

SAE3701 Assignment 3 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 2 July 2025 QUESTION 1 Essay Title: The Role of Teacher Unions in Democratic South Africa: Advocacy, Strikes, and Education Policy Impact Introduction In post-apartheid South Africa, the landscape of education has been shaped significantly by the emergence of robust democratic institutions and increased participation from various stakeholders, notably teacher unions. These unions have emerged as pivotal actors, advocating for the rights of educators, influencing policy reform, and seeking to improve the working and learning conditions within public schools. Among the most influential of these is the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), whose presence and actions have brought both progress and contention to the education system. Recent strikes by major teacher unions have reignited debates regarding their role, highlighting tensions between advocating for educators and maintaining stable, uninterrupted education for learners. This essay evaluates the role of teacher unions in the democratic era, with a specific focus on their dual function as protectors of teacher welfare and shapers of education policy. It further considers the positive and negative consequences of union actions, using the recent wave of strikes as a case study. Issues That May Lead to Teacher Strikes Teacher strikes in South Africa are typically precipitated by a variety of interrelated issues, many of which are rooted in long-standing systemic challenges within the public education sector. 1. Inadequate Remuneration and Employment