The ANC's proposed move to declare education an essential service and ban teachers' strikes should be applauded ("ANC: We must move beyond union interests", February 5).
For Sadtu to believe it is wrong to classify teaching as an essential service because "if you disrupt education you are not threatening a life" is not only short-sighted but crippling to young pupils who deserve a good education at all times with dedicated teachers who arrive on time every day.
Children suffer when teachers strike, as was proved disastrously last year. Those in matric had to somehow learn without the help and guidance of their educators.
Young children learn quickly not to go to school when their teachers are on strike.
This encourages them to be undisciplined, disrespectful and indifferent in their attitude towards education.