The National Teachers’ Union (Natu) is demanding that teachers’ children receive free varsity education.
According to Natu, many teachers have resorted to early retirement in order to cash in their pensions to afford university fees for their children.
The union believes that it's unfair that university lecturers don’t pay for their children's tertiary education, while educators at school level work just as hard without any form of funding subsidy.
Natu spokesperson Allen Thompson says the union noticed a growing trend of premature resignations.
There are resigning in large numbers... because they are over indebted, such that they cannot afford to take their children to university.
— Allen Thompson, National spokesperson for Natu
Thompson explains that the children of teachers are also disadvantage because they do not meet the threshold for the NSFAS funding scheme.
Natu is saying all the children of the teachers and employees in education must be exempted from paying the tuition fees and get required discounts for boarding fees.
— Allen Thompson, National spokesperson for Natu
Added to this, Natu is also calling for the the Government Employees’ Medical Scheme (Gems) to be dissolved as it is apparently falling apart.