Deputy Chairperson and hon members, the safety and security of teachers and learners at school do not receive adequate funding on the budget. There are currently only 48 schools identified on the National School Safety Framework, NSSF, programme that will be monitored in order to attain a safe and violence-free school environment. However, this is not adequately emphasised in the Annual Performance Plan.
The learners and teachers are being slaughtered by gangsters and there seems to be no immediate solution to this problem. The integration of the SA Police Service, Saps, into the education system is imperative and there is no integration mentioned in the Annual Performance Plan, APP. Our teachers and learners need support. Social workers and nurses have a supporting role to play in our schools. A [Inaudible.] solution needs to be found to this enormous problem compromising education everyday. Our children deserve to learn in an environment that is safe so that they can realise their full potential and live a full and happy life contributing to the growth and development of South Africa.
There are yet daily reports of learners falling prey to crime, drugs, gangsterism and unsafe school infrastructure such as pit
latrines as they continue to claim young lives. Secondly, the President's failure to address to address Early Childhood Development in his state of the nation address and the department's inability to implement the Early Childhood Development programme is especially concerning. Given the infrastructural challenges experienced in schools across South Africa, any decision to bring very young children onto unsuitable school premises would open unconstitutional challenges and create several reputational and management problems.
The failure to implement is mainly caused by lack of co-ordinated provision of services to our children. Child nutrition, early language development and inclusive education should be a concerted effort by the department of education working in collaboration with the Department of Social Development. Without serious attention to these critical issues the results would not be pleasing in the future. Thank you.