Basic Education Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, attended an Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) Labour Law Seminar at the CTICC in Cape Town from 28 – 30 August 2024, under the theme: “30 Years in the making: Reconciling triumphs and losses in the labour relations landscape to carve a future path of success”.
The Seminar reflected on the role of the judiciary in the country, post-democracy and determined if current legislation promotes the values expressed in the Constitution, Another goal of the Seminar was to identify opportunities for improving the labour law environment over the next 30 years, whilst examining the labour relations landscape since the promulgation of the Labour Relations Act (LRA). Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, delivered the keynote address on the Rule of Law and the South African judiciary in the first 30 years of South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
During the Seminar, DG Mweli delivered a presentation on the Priorities of the 7th Administration, considering the socio-economic challenges and the current global economic crisis, highlighting the need for a multi-sectoral approach and inter-governmental collaboration to ensure quality service delivery in safe learning environments. Mr Mweli was also part of a panel discussion, moderated by Prof Mary Metcalfe, seasoned education expert. DG Mweli emphasised amongst others, the Bloom's Taxonomy of educational objectives comprising the cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning domains, along with its hierarchy that corresponds to different levels of learning, in the development of the learner. “This is affected by the context of learning and teaching in the classroom. Effective teaching and learning is assessed by imparting skills and competencies for the modern world for the learner to acquire analytical, problem-solving and digital literacy skills to navigate his or her way through an avalanche of information to be able to distil fact from fiction for holistic development”.
DG Mweli acknowledged the important role that the ELRC has played in ensuring labour peace: “Our success, as the DBE, is a testament to the exceptional relationships we have built with Teacher Unions, over 30 years. The support and collaboration that we have experienced are invaluable to our growth, especially to the learners who are at the centre of our relationship. This Council has a history of having navigated difficult issues with a great deal of success. The ELRC’s commitment to upholding the constitutional rights of our learners as far as the right to human dignity and freedom and security are concerned, in support of the principle that a child’s best interest is of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child, is invaluable”.
Attendees participated in interactive expert discussions, case studies and unique insights on best practices that contribute to enhancing the implementation of labour law in South Africa.