Chairperson, the DA objects to the Education budget on the grounds that when it comes to schooling it does not provide adequate financial support for training, recruitment, in-service development, performance management, retention and salary, that is, the full value chain, for teachers in Grades 1 to 12.
It does not adequately provide for the professionalisation of Grade R teachers. The DA appreciates the fact that the Occupation-Specific Dispensation agreement for teachers was signed in April 2008, and that the general promise is for good teachers to be better paid.
Good teachers affect eternity by nurturing aspiring minds. The budget goes far, but it does not go far enough, to support them in the task that should charm, strengthen, steer and not dull the imagination of the young.
We have no difficulty with the budget for Higher Education but we have a little quarrel with the funds set aside for the SA Qualifications Authority, SAQA, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, known as Umalusi, and the Council on Higher Education.
Funding set aside for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, is adequate, but our education authorities must find a solution to the underspending of those funds at university level.
Finally, we encourage the Ministry of Higher Education and Training to start negotiating with, rather than issuing instructions to the provinces over the structure for teacher training colleges. Thank you.