Chairperson, much will be expected from this budget and the ACDP sincerely hopes it will deliver what the budgets of previous years have failed to deliver.
The enormous amount of effort and money being invested in our basic education system must, for the sake of everyone living in South Africa, result in a significant improvement in both number and quality of school learners at all levels. Concerns have been raised that low standards are sending a wrong message to pupils, parents, universities and employers. Low standards also undermine transformation of both the basic and higher education systems.
To earn a matric certificate, pupils need to pass two out of six subjects with 30%, and four with 40%. Under apartheid a 33% average was needed. So an increase in the minimum pass for matric would deviate from many, many years of tradition. Changes would clearly create huge challenges for the department and for learners and teachers, even if implemented cautiously and progressively. Are you considering any such changes, hon Minister?
Schools that perform poorly carry a debilitating legacy from our past. The combined efforts of government and society have not been able to reverse this legacy to date. Quality education requires at the very least both quality teachers and quality textbooks, which we know are a priority of the department. What will make this year different to any other with regard to better handling of these crucial resources?
We note the strategic priority of the department to support and develop the teaching profession, but the ACDP would like to see an increased emphasis on improving teaching skills and content knowledge. The large percentage of teachers in the final grades of school who do not have enough subject matter knowledge or knowledge of teaching to prepare students adequately for final examinations is unacceptable. We would also like to see measures being taken to benchmark the quality of teachers and to promote job fulfilment.
Before a student can pass exams like matric, they first need to be taught good study techniques: the ability to read and comprehend, the ability to take meaningful notes and how to manage their time. These are areas where learners fall short, especially when entering higher education institutions.
Minds are impressionable when young and if taught that "learning the memo", in other words, marking model answers prepared by departments, will be sufficient to pass, they lose the passion and knack for real, lifelong learning. The degree to which this has been prioritised in this Budget will determine much of the success and failure to come in the years ahead.
The ACDP calls on the department to monitor whether or not the school curriculum and activities are adequately incorporating ethics and leadership training to assist learners not only to be competent in their profession, but also to be trustworthy, honest and able to work with other people.
There is a need for improved Internet connectivity and e-learning, particularly in rural areas. The ACDP welcomes the plan to establish 3 300 ICT laboratories in schools. At the end of the day, the ACDP supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.]