Cosas against education as essential service

The Congress of SA Students (Cosas) has said it is against education being declared an essential service.

“As much as learners have a right to education, teachers have a right to demonstrate. We can never support such,” Cosas secretary-general Tshiamo Tsotetsi told journalists in Johannesburg today.

Cosas is part of the Progressive Youth Alliance that includes the ANC Youth League and the Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA).

The organisations addressed journalists under the auspices of the Youth Alliance following a meeting it held recently.

The ANC announced yesterday, after its national executive committee meeting, that it would push for education to be declared an essential service.

YCLSA secretary general Buti Manamela said there should be a balance between the right to education and the right for teachers to voice their grievances.

“We can never allow the right of either … to be taken away from them … we hope that this issue will, through the ANC lekgotla, be further discussed.”

Cabinet was holding its lekgotla from today until Friday.

- Sapa