The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the largest trade union in education and public service sector will this week convene a ground-breaking inaugural academic conference and launch a Journal for the union and teachers
To be held under the theme: “Decolonisation of Basic Education”, the Conference will provide ordinary teachers with a platform to share their experiences and education research work which will be peer reviewed and published in the Journal.
The Conference as well as the Journal, are a realization of SADTU’s 2017 National General Council (NGC) resolution after noting that platforms for education workers, as professionals, to write articles and share experience that will assist to find solutions for some of the challenges in the education system, were limited. Teachers are ideally placed within the education value chain to come up with solutions to some of the pressing challenges in education.
“There is a need to strengthen relations between the Union and teachers through knowledge contribution in the field of education. The Conference and the Journal aims to establish an open space for teachers and researchers in education to reflect on their experiences and offer solutions on how to improve and transform the education sector,” SADTU General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke said.
The Conference further serves to fulfill the Union’s 2030 Vision strategic goal of creating a learning nation through the involvement of members.
The work towards establishing the Journal began in earnest in September last year when 10 academics from higher education institutions met to form an editorial board for the Journal led by University of KwaZulu-Natal lecturer, DrMaserole Christina Kgari-Masondo. The Journal is an independent peer-reviewed publication which is in the process of accreditation by the South African Department of Higher Education.
During the Conference, teachers who are SADTU members will present abstracts on their research topics which include among others; decolonizing pedagogy in the 21st century, use and integration of ICT in teacher development and in the classroom, managing professional teacher development, discipline in schools, school leadership, decolonizing language, decolonizing the curriculum and the decolonization of the school dress code.
The media are welcome to attend and cover the Conference.
The Conference will take place as follows:
Dates: Wednesday, 3 July – Friday, 5 July 2019.
Venue: SADTU Village, Portion 74 – Corner Dann Road and Loam Street, Glen Marais, Kempton Park.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
CONTACT:
General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968
Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651
Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 719 5157