Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, and Members of Parliament, the challenge facing South Africa today is the fact that when we consider this particular Budget Vote, we all know we are spending a vast amount of taxpayers' money to provide quality education. Yet we are faced with questions about the inadequacies and shortfalls in various aspects of our education system.
Despite some pockets of success in the 2011 matric pass rates, the reality is that our matriculation pass rates are not at acceptable levels. A vast number of school-going learners and matriculants show disturbing trends in so far as functional literacy and numeracy are concerned.
Making matters worse is the fact that thousands of South African children arrive at school desperately hungry or malnourished, making it difficult for them to focus in class. The school feeding scheme, which was intended to address this problem, is riddled with problems in the provinces that need it most, such as the Eastern Cape.
It is no exaggeration to state that freedom from slavery and poverty is acquired by conquest, and not by gift. Our best weapon for the attainment of freedom from slavery - let me rather say subtle slavery - and poverty is education. To support this, allow me to quote the wise words of Martin Luther King Jr:
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
[Interjections.] As long as there is poverty in the world, no one can be totally healthy. Strangely enough, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. I am what I am, because you are what you are.
The other sad reality about our schools is that they have become unsafe environments. The crime, violence, sexual assault and substance abuse that have gained a foothold in many communities have filtered into our schools. As every move at school is unsafe for our children, we must do everything in our power to ensure that schools become havens of stability. [Interjections.]
The UDM supports the Budget Vote, but I need one more minute to finish my work. I plead with you, Chairperson, for one more minute! Half a minute! Thank you. [Laughter.] [Applause.]