GIYANI - More than 400 educators of the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) programme within the Mopani district took to the streets of Giyani on Tuesday, protesting against alleged exploitation by the Department of Education.

The protesters marched from the Giynai CBD to the former Giyani Parliamentary buildings to present a memorandum containing their grievances to their senior district manager, Mr Xipetani Nkuna.

The angry educators chanted freedom songs, while displaying placards stating that the Department of Education should stop exploiting teachers and consider them as professionals. Some of the teachers’ demands included specific date of payment, electronic payments, that outstanding payments be paid within seven days, full payment of maternity and festive season leave, and the remuneration of centre managers.

On behalf of the Mopani district senior manager, the circuit co-ordinator and head of curriculum in the district, Mr RM Maake said that they appreciate the peaceful march and that they acknowledged teachers’ demands. “We are going to look into your demands and we will respond very soon,” he said. The department was given seven days to respond the teachers’ grievances.