Thank you, Chairperson; hollow promises are the typical courtesy an abusive state affords its subjects. It is also true that, citizens in exchange for promises of wellbeing such as food, health care, education and security will forfeit their freedom and get neither.
This is something that George Orwell understood very well when he wrote his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. The hon Minister must be aware of this book. If he hasn't read it, I suggest he does. Orwell wrote
about the dangers of dystopian society or an imaginary society that is dehumanising and as unpleasant as possible.
In short, a dystopia is not a good place. Dystopias also serve as warnings about the current state of affairs of a government or those in power.
It remains ironic that the same Minister who was captured on video stating that students must, in reaction to fees must fall, is now back for another round.
Back to the issue of dystopian promises, Chairperson, and boy, were there many! The Minister promised that within the next 10 years there will be no district municipality will be without at least one post school education and training institution. Which district municipalities are we talking about?
The department will realign its programmes to focus on the government's economic priorities. Furthermore, R150 million is promised to upgrade workshops at Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, colleges to meet industry requirements. This is according to the Minister.
Minister, your time is running out for the implementation of the National Development Plan, NDP, by 2030. It is less than eleven years from now. That is equal to two Parliaments to implement your policies.
Furthermore, this year, this department has been allocated more than R79 million for planning, policy and strategy. Minister, we hope that is going to be a first grade plan. That's surely a lot of money for planning; some might even call it excessive. The promises go on and on.
Afrikaans:
Die verlede kry die skuld vir alles, sonder enige fokus op die toekoms. Ongelukkig is dit wat gebeur as jy baie Karl Marx lees. Ons studente is nie vry nie.
Die regering hou hulle gyselaar deur ongeletterdheid en gebruik die blaam van die verlede vir alle probleme vir hulle eie korttermynpolitieke gewin. Die ANC soek antwoorde in die verkeerde boek. As daar nie dringend gefokus word op die verbetering van basiese onderrig nie, kan ons maar hierdie ministerie toemaak.
English:
This department will be redundant if the ANC does not deliver on its promise to improve reading in younger children aged 10.
Afrikaans:
Ons uitvalsyfers in hor en basiese onderwys wys dat ons studente oorgelewer word aan omstandighede, sonder dat hulle 'n benul het van wat vir hulle voorl. [Gelag.]
English:
... Ask them ... Every year, South African schools are amongst the worst in international math tests. However, when the results of Afrikaans schools are considered, these schools fall amongst the best in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, TIMMS, test international. This is not because Afrikaans is better or clever; it is because these students are taught in their mother tongue or vernacular.
Minister, you are creating the inequality by not understanding that mother tongue education sets the basis for quality education. Let our students be able study in IsiZulu, Sesotho, Sepedi and all our other languages.
Minister, we welcome your programme to develop more black academics but let them also develop their studies in their vernacular so that they can teach their students in their own language.
An English only approach to our society is not progressive.
Afrikaans:
Ons studente, swart en wit, het 'n bydrae om te lewer. Ons weet die Minister ag homslef as revolusionr. So kom ons praat oor die Vierde Industrile Revolusie. Een van die gevare wat die komende revolusie gaan inhou is meer ongelykheid en meer werkloosheid. Minister, wat doen die regering om ons studente vir werk, wat nog nie bestaan nie, voor te berei?
Wat doen die regering om ons studente te leer dat ons nie meer iemand anders die skuld kan gee vir mislukkings nie, maar dat ons as 'n land skouer aan die wiel moet sit. Minister, as die regering nie optree en proaktief ons kinders voorberei vir die nuwe revolusie nie, gaan ons agterbly. En as ons agterbiy, is daar weer ongelykheid en nog optogte en nog plundering oppad.
Die VF Plus s, hou op fokus op die verlede en bou aan 'n beter toekoms. Hou op skuld gee en neem verantwoordelikheid. Leer ons
studente dat grade goed is, maar dat grade alleen nie jou sukses bepaal nie. Leer ons kinders om iets te word en in die proses om iets te leer. Maak hulle gereed vir die uitdagings wat mre inhou en om verantwoordlike burgers te wees, wat verantwoordelik is, wat uitdagings aanpak en die beste daarvan maak, ongeag jou velkleur of omstandighede.
English:
Minister, if you do not do this, your promises will remain hollow and your dystopian society will rise up against you. Thank you. [Time expired.]