On Teachers’ Day, I’d like to address our trade unionists. Discipline has become problem n°1 at school. The teacher has to negotiate with pupils to do his/her job; many teachers still jeopardise their jobs by using the stick to get some peace from pupils. Is this normal?

Children should be made aware of their responsibilities.

Otherwise, ZEP schools, which need special attention, will remain as they are even if the whole state budget is invested in them. We’re adopting a failing system of education like those of the industrialised countries.

When a teacher reports an unruly child, he/she is said to be incompetent. I call upon trade unionists to do something (the elections for the Government Teachers’ Union are due for 2005).

<B>Christiane Yowsang

Teacher at Candos primary school (ZEP)</B>