Chairperson, I would like to thank the hon Mashishi for the statement that she has made and we too would like to congratulate or to wish the candidates who are writing the supplementary examinations well.
I think what emerges from the statement is that it's a fact that the learner population has embraced the reality that matric is important - the fact that we have almost 100 000 learners sitting for the examinations is a positive sign.
The Department of Education had been quite concerned about retention rates of learners, particularly in the Grades 10, 11 and 12 band -that's the FET band - given the fact that we have a new universal enrolment for the other standards. But the positive sign, in addition, that the Minister of Labour would be able to affirm, is that they have created postschool opportunities for thousands of learners through the apprenticeships and the learnerships, as well as through Setas; and the Minister of Higher Education is exploring various options to provide support for postschool learners.
Furthermore, the FET colleges have redesigned the curriculum. We would be providing short-term skills and the fact that more than 500 000 non- breaking learners are now enrolled in the FET colleges suggests that the recapitalisation of the FET was indeed a worthwhile exercise.
So, we take this opportunity of wishing those matriculants well and certainly, we invite the parents to ensure that they help the learners, the children who have not passed, to sit for a supplementary examination wherever possible. Thank you.