Chairperson, the school calendar is the responsibility of the Minister of Basic Education, therefore the question should be redirected to the Department of Basic Education.
However, I think this is a reflection of a problem and a challenge that this Parliament will have to deal with at some stage. Firstly, I don't understand how a member of this Parliament would not know that this is not a question for higher education.
We need to look at a number of these questions, some of which are really a waste of time because they are inappropriately asked. Some of them have very little to do with what they are purported to be about. However, I'm sure that the member will be able to direct the question to the Minister of Basic Education. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Minister. Hon Dudley is not well, so I was informed that hon Swart will ask a follow-up question.
House Chair, firstly, may I apologise on behalf of Mrs Dudley for her absence today, owing to illness. Clearly, if a question is directed to the wrong Minister, the questions office could also redirect it.
In any case, Minister, the reasoning behind closing schools for five weeks during the Fifa World Cup followed concerns relating to, inter alia, additional strains on infrastructure and transportation, and absenteeism. The proposal was widely supported by hospitality stakeholders, teachers' unions and the national Department of Transport, and we, as the ACDP, support this proposal as long as the actual time spent in classrooms is not affected.
Now, the follow-up question is whether, hon Minister, you have been engaging universities to adopt a similar calendar as surely similar considerations will apply, albeit on a smaller scale. Or do universities' calendars in any event accommodate the five weeks during the Soccer World Cup? This should make sense as university students could then try to earn extra money during the Soccer World Cup and hostel rooms could be utilised for accommodation, again, clearly, as long as academic standards are not compromised during this position.
Surely, Chair, we appreciate being asked and answering questions, but, we can't change tack in the middle of a question and ask something new about universities. Nevertheless, as the hon member ... [Interjections.]
Angixakwa nje imibuzo ephuma kwilunga kwilungu eliphikisayo uTrollip nangelilodwa ilanga. Angiyenqeni nemibuzo yenu le eniyibuzayo. [I have never been puzzled by the member of the opposition hon Trollip's questions, not even for a single day. So, I am not avoiding the questions that you are asking.]
Anyway, you know that universities set their own calendars each year. Perhaps what you are raising is an idea that is well worth considering, that in the light of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, maybe we should engage universities around some kind of synergies so that university students can get some holiday or vacation jobs and be able to earn a little bit of money. I think that is a very good idea, hon member; it's something that we will consider as a department. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, there are 199 school days in 2009. In 2010 there will be 196 days, or 195 days if a public holiday is added. The school year begins a week earlier in 2010. Mid-year there is a five-week- long holiday and schools close a week later in December.
The top public secondary schools in the country have leaders who believe that it is ludicrous to have a five-week break in the middle of the year. A Naptosa, National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA, spokesperson is more understated. Still, she says that it is not, I quote: "... ideal that teachers and learners down tools for five long weeks as this may have a paralytic effect on their learning". [Time expired.]
Hon members, hon Swart has admitted that the question was directed to the wrong Minister. Nevertheless, I will allow the hon Minister to say something, if he wants to.
Thank you, Chairperson. I think that this issue of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and schooling is something that my colleague, Minister Motshekga, would be happy to engage around. Therefore, it would be proper that, as I've said, this question is actually redirected to her so that we are able to deal with these matters better. Thank you.
Query regarding (i) progress made iro a single coherent school sport system and (ii) civil body representing school sport
198. Mr C T Frolick (ANC) asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
(1) What progress has his department made in the (a) establishment and (b) implementation of a single coherent school sport system;
(2) which body in civil society (a) is recognised by his department as the legitimate representative of school sport and (b) represents South African school sport at international forums?