The march will be directed to the offices of the National Treasury, the Department of Basic Education, and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The march is a direct response to the government's austerity measures, which the union argues are severely affecting the quality of public education.

According to SADTU, these budget cuts threaten the right to quality education, particularly for children from disadvantaged and working-class communities. The union warns that the ongoing financial constraints are deeply damaging the public education system, undermining the constitutional rights of SA’s youth.

“We are taking to the streets today to demand that the government puts education first,” said a SADTU Spokesperson. “These austerity measures are putting our schools, educators, and learners in a very difficult position, and they are making it harder for children, especially from poorer backgrounds, to receive the quality education they deserve.”

The protest is also in line with a global initiative led by Education International, the international federation of education unions, which is calling for increased investment in public education under the theme Go Public! Fund Education. SADTU is highlighting how austerity is directly impacting schools, teachers, and students across the country. With cuts to education budgets, many schools are struggling to stay afloat. Teachers are increasingly being forced to manage overcrowded classrooms, and many critical teaching posts remain unfilled. In the Western Cape province alone, more than 2400 teaching positions have been frozen, further exacerbating the crisis.

The march is expected to attract widespread support from educators, students, and members of the public who share the union’s concerns about the future of education in SA.

--ChannelAfrica--