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DA: Statement by Junita Kloppers-Lourens, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of basic education, on the department of Basic Education and science learners

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that the Department of Basic Education has not yet made public an investigation into the reasons for the poor 2009 physical sciences exam results. Such a report would have shown whether the challenges and problems faced in 2009 may be attributed to the exam paper set, or the entire curriculum. This effectively means that the current Physical Sciences learners of 2010 may be subject to the same challenges and problems encountered in the previous year's exams.

The DA finds it disturbing that the Department of Basic Education, with nearly half of the academic year already gone, has not set any deadlines for the release a fact-finding report. Meanwhile, exam papers for the 2010 National Senior Certificate Physical Sciences have already been finalised and the Department has seemingly done so without taking into consideration any of the past challenges. This also shows that the Department is not really serious about improving Physical Science results.

During a portfolio committee meeting on the 4 May 2010, I asked the Director General for Basic Education, Mr Bobby Soobryan, whether the problems encountered by last year's Physical Sciences Grade 12 learners were to be blamed on either the final exam paper, or on the curriculum. The response by the Director-General was that, the reasons were not yet determined, and that the Department would not want to embarrass Umalusi, the council for quality assurance, with a premature answer.

This points to either the Director-General being unable to account for the findings of such a report, or a cover up of its content.

The DA believes in excellence and a learner-centred approach to administering our education system. This requires that any administration learns from and improves on past performances to ensure a quality education. The DA seeks to find out whether an inquiry was conducted, and if so, why it has not been made public. I will be writing to the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga, to urge her to publish a report before it is too late for any necessary corrective measures to be taken.