School education lies at the heart of an open-opportunity society. At school,
learners should obtain the foundation for further education, and for training
and preparation for the workplace, and learn to become truthful, responsible and
excellent citizens of South Africa.

The continuous failing by the Department of Education to finalise the number of
personnel especially office based posts is still a burning issue. It is a fact
that office based posts are not increasing since 2009. Currently there are not
more than 2500 office based post which are not filled since 2009. The department
is still paying 82% of its budget to salaries. These are facts since the
department ended up appointing advocate to trace the money. Remember advocates
are paid on an hourly rate.

We wish to acknowledge the increase of the education budget to R42, 146 billion.
This will cover most activities in the department if it is well managed. We wish
to condemn the departmental expenditure of the amount of R31 892 which was not
budgeted for. It is shocking to note that this department spends about
R23.6million on renting of offices. This must come into an end.

We urge the MEC of Finance and the Premier not to allocate the money directly to
the department of education until they put their house in order. We wish to be
informed about the results of the investigation so that we can go out and buy
doom if there are some rats.

The finalisation of disciplinary actions for educators are taking long,
resulting in the department paying for 2 employees in one post. Displaced
educators get paid while not working in schools. The failure by the department
to audit and control personnel resulted in the department robbing parents and
their children of R830m for infrastructure and was used to pay personnel.

The issue of learner transport is of great concern. Both Departments Transport
and Education continue to shift the blame to one another when we demand clarity
about the issue of scholar transport. Can the MEC tell us how much was spent in
this programme and how many learners benefitted? It is disheartening to learn
that R10m was not used during the last financial year while many learners are
travelling long distances to and from school. Most affected learners are those
who reside in rural areas.

We need to have better strategies to help our children without transporting them
from rural areas to urban areas. Zabalaza school in Newcastle is closed as
learners are transported to Newcastle. Learners leave Ingogo primary school at
4am and come home at 6pm and these include even grade R pupils. Can the MEC
consider adhoc schools where possible than one size fits all approach. The IFP
is of the view that primary school learners must not use the same transport with
the post primary learners because there are bullying activities reported in some
areas where learners are transported.

SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME

This project has tarnished the image of the department. The department has
failed dismally to source the right service providers. There are many examples
of service providers not being paid on time. It further used inexperience
service providers and there were reports of inadequate meals and even some
learners being poisoned. When some of these service providers' contracts were
terminated they took the department to court. In most cases the department opted
for out of court settlements. In some other places the department has appointed
care taker service providers. What worries the IFP most is the fact that all
service providers were granted extensions of their contracts regardless of their
poor performance.

INFRASTRUCTURE

When is the department going to terminate the services of IDT and Coega? For how
long are the contracts between the department and these entities going to
continue? When is the department going to pay all the contractors that were not
paid for their services rendered due to the financial constrains in the
department? How much is the department losing due to late payments? Ngqongqoshe
kumele nisebenze nijeqeza ngoba kulokhu akukho ukucaphuna kwenye indawo bese
kuvalwa kwenye. Ngifisa ukwazi Ngqongqoshe ukuthi ngabe iMlokothwa High School
neSiyamukela High School eMadadeni zikhona yini ohlelweni lokuthi zakhiwe
kulonyaka?

We acknowledge that the number of ECD classrooms will increase. Can we be
informed as how many classrooms are going to be built and where and how much
will cost?

CADRE DEPLOYMENT

Some officials in the department don't implement decisions taken by the policy
makers. This has led to manipulation, nepotism and corruption. Some parents were
cheated by the department by electing principals of their choice instead of
listening to the parents voice by some officials who submitted minutes with fake
signatures of parents. Up to date there are schools who have not appointed their
SGB's because certain parents that are on the voters roll are not the ones who
the department officials want. The IFP is concerned about the interests of the
learners which are not taken care of. Some principals are paid while not working
because of the above.

Honourable Speaker, We have seen the phenomena of bullying taking place, even in
the presence of a teacher, just imagine what can happen in classrooms where
there are no teachers - who is going to be held responsible if a learner is
badly injured in instances where human resources were not provided for or where
classrooms are so overcrowded because of lack of accommodation or the school is
understaffed? Let us not create an opportunity for learners to get hurt, but
rather find ways to have all posts adequately filled sooner rather than later.

Honourable Speaker, the IFP demands, in the interest of accessible quality
education, that the MEC for education put attainable and sustainable plans in
place to ensure that decision making and management structures are strengthened
- even to the extent where there is non-compliance, corrective and punitive
measures be introduced without delay.

Honourable Speaker, education is the foundation for opportunities; hence it is
the responsibility of the Department of Education to provide a conducive
environment that will stimulate our leaners to do their best.

Honourable Speaker, we have a multitude of underperforming schools in our
Province and yet the Department of Education in the Province fails in its role
as the appointing agent of school principals. Too many teachers who are not
appropriately qualified, who lack leadership and management skills are
recommended by school governing councils, who unfortunately have been influenced
or don't have the capacity to decide over such important matters, to be their
preferred candidate for the post of principal.

I believe that it is incumbent upon the Department of Education to defer
appointments of principals where these teachers have been elevated without
having the necessary skills, experience or expertise.

Principals should be held accountable for poor management, poor discipline and
poor educational outcomes. Principals should not be appointed based on their
affiliations to a certain teacher union, but on appropriate qualifications and
experience.

Some of these newly appointed principals don't even know how to draw up a school
timetable or how to allocate work to teachers. If these are the principals the
department appoints, then it is a reflection on the department. Do not
compromise education by abdicating your responsibilities.

Hon. Speaker, given this department's critical mandate of educating our people,
we have to be particularly critical of mediocrity. We cannot allow sub-standard
performance to jeopardize the entire nation's chances of a better tomorrow.

I thank you