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With all public schools opening tomorrow, the DA wishes all the Grade 1s starting their school careers, as well as all the other learners and teachers, the very best for the school year.

Reports of schools still waiting for deliveries of their learning and teaching support material (LTSM) is a big concern as this compels parents, especially those of no-fee paying schools, to shell out money on stationery that would otherwise not have been necessary. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her National Department need to ensure that the provinces deliver vital learning materials on time. The annual delay in delivery negatively impacts education outcomes and shortchanges learners in the long run.

Quality education should be a cornerstone of government’s efforts to lift generations of South Africans out of poverty by providing them with the necessary skills for successful economic participation. How are learners meant to learn vital foundational literacy and numeracy skills if they don’t have the necessary materials to facilitate this?

No doubt, the matric results announcement will reveal that nearly half of learners failed to even reach matric, never mind pass to a high enough standard to carve out prosperous futures for themselves, due to ANC government failures.

The DA will continue putting pressure on the Department of Education to ensure that all learners receive an education in conducive learning environments where there is quality teaching to give learners the best shot at obtaining the skills necessary to participate in the economy.

I will be visiting the Nancefield Primary School and Kliptown Secondary School in Gauteng tomorrow to ascertain their school readiness.

Issued by Baxolile 'Bax' Nodada MP - DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education