Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, distinguished guests, we say thanks for all the submission made by the different institutions, organisations and individuals. They show a commitment to education and the developmental state.
Chairperson, we are fortunate to be debating this very important legislation today in a month where we honour one of the revolutionaries, Comrade Steve Biko. He was clear about the importance of education and its role in liberating the minds of the oppressed. I have no doubt that if he was still alive he would be in the forefront of pushing for this legislation to advance the interests of the young people of South Africa.
Sihlalo, ngitsandza kutsi ngiphakamise tibongo ngalendzima lengaka leseyentiwe Litiko Letemfundvo Lephakeme Nekuceceshwa kwemakhono. Loku kusikhombisa kutsi sinendzima lenkhulu lekumele siyidlale kulommango wakitsi. Sihalalisela Nendvuna Nzimande ngemsebenti wakhe lawentile ekuphatseni lelitiko. Phela kusungula litiko ulisuse phansi ngumsebenti lomkhulu kakhulu lekumele natsi simsekele kuze akwati kuphumelela.
Ngiko nje sibonga nakuMengameli Zuma ngekutsi ehlukanise lamatiko abe mabili. Kuyabonakala kutsi loku abekwentela kutsi engete emandla Etindvuna kuze tikwati kubeka temfundvo embili. (Translation of Siswati paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, I would like to express a word of gratitude to the Department of Higher Education and Training for the role it has played. This serves as an indication that we have a greater role to play in our community. We also congratulate Minister Nzimande for his work in heading this department. To establish a department from scratch, is an enormous task that requires from us to support him in order for him to succeed.
That is the reason why we also want to thank President Zuma for dividing this department into two. It is obvious that he did this in order to empower Ministers to prioritise education.]
The technical legislative amendment proves that the Department of Higher Education and Training is really taking a step forward as a new department.
Chairperson, considering the public hearing, we still have a long way to go in interacting with our community to ensure that communities are more engaged around the issues of higher education.
As we received the submissions, we found that other institutions provide relevant educational services, but were not aligning their services with the South African Qualifications Authority. Other institutions feel excluded as they have tried many times to register with the South African Qualification Authority and could not meet the minimum requirement standards.
This shows that it is highly important that all institutions should align themselves with the Department of Higher Education and Training policies as there will be no special amendment for one individual, or any other private provider. The Department of Higher Education and Training, however, should create an environment that will suit everybody who meets the minimum requirements.
The suggestion that the amendment to the Act may have the effect of isolating South African higher education from the rest of the world, and that the amendments unreasonably impact on the relationships between local and international providers of higher education to the detriment of South Africans, cannot be correct and shows the bias of certain individuals who have got their self-interest in mind.
We cannot make Bills that will suit certain individuals, private providers or international institutions. We must provide Bills that would be able to respond to our economical needs. All those who want to participate must do so within the terms and conditions of the Department of Higher Education and Training. We cannot allow colonisers to continue colonising us in our own freedom. We are free and not "dom"! [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, it is true that unregistered institutions under the Companies Act, Act 61 of 1973, are problematic. The Department of Higher Education and Training should strengthen its monitoring tools to avoid corrupt activities.
Phela bafundzi, Ndvuna, betama ngawo onkhe emandla kutsi etikhatsini letinyenti bahambe bayewubhalisa etikhungweni letiphakeme. Kodvwa inkinga labahlangana nayo ngulokutsi batfola tikhungo letingakabhaliswa ngalokusemtsetfweni. Loko kwenta kutsi bafundzi batikhandze sebalahlekelwe timali tabo kanye nesikhatsi sabo. Ngiko nje siphakamisa lendlela yekutsi litiko lakho kufanele libuke indlela lencono yekutsi kubukelwe bafundzi kuze bangatikhandzi sebasetinkingeni. (Translation of Siswati paragraph follows.)
[Indeed, Minister, learners try by all means to go and register at institutions of higher learning most of the times. However, the problem that they encounter at these institutions is that such institutions are not legally registered. This causes learners to loose their money and time. That is the reason we propose that your department finds a better way to cater for the learners in order for them not to find themselves in such problems.]
The submission by the Independent Institute of Education, IIE; Adult Learning Network, ALN; and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Tesol, confirms our understanding that the amendments are indeed long overdue. Umalusi even emphasised the importance of the effort to create coherence in the Adult and Further Education and Training systems.
It is that understanding that made Umalusi anticipate that this newly created stability will reflect in the adult education success rate in future. We hope that the Green Paper will also reflect on these matters and be able to respond to your promises, Minister.
It is because of that understanding that the ANC, as the ruling party, decided to prioritise education as the key to transforming economic growth in our country. We must also take note that all that is happening now is the result of the apartheid regime that continued to emphasise that we must have Bantu Education, which oppressed us. The ANC is prepared and is going to ensure that it addresses the imbalances of the past. It is very important that hon James must understand that Setas are the answer to the skills shortages in our country. [Interjections.]
Again, it is very important that people should be able to use their conscience in using public funds. I would have liked hon Zille to have diverted R2 million to improving the shortage of skills and promoting skills development within our country.
It is very unfortunate that the opposition, like the DA, could come here today pretending not to support the Higher Education Laws Amendment Bill, whereas when we were at the hearing they gave the view that they supported all these Bills. Today they pretend to have a platform from which to speak lies. It is very much unfortunate that they supported all these Bills, but today they come and differ with all these Bills. [Interjection.]