Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today received a briefing on the Learner Transport Policy with questions being raised by Members of Parliament regarding the safe transportation of learners and the possibility of a “ring-fenced” grant for the programme.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, said: “We hope very soon we will hear more about a conditional grant to ring-fence the funds for learner transport to protect the funds for this programme.”

At the start of the meeting, Ms Gina indicated that the meeting was supposed to have been a joint meeting but due to other commitments, unfortunately the Portfolio Committee on Transport could not attend.

The Committee heard that the majority of learners that require scholar transport have been covered in this regard. The Department of Basic Education said learner transport is funded from the equitable share given to provinces, which meant it was not ring-fenced and can be utilised by provinces as they see fit. The Department of Basic Education said based on the current spending and costing, there is a need for further funding for learner transport with attention in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo provinces.

The Department of Basic Education further raised key challenges regarding the transporting of learners, especially the privately arranged transport where there is a contract between the parents and the operators. The Committee heard that the use of unroadworthy vehicles, unauthorised services and unqualified drivers are part of the challenges faced by the department.

The Department of Basic Education agreed that the payment of service providers at times is challenging, especially in provinces where there are many service providers and has committed itself to attempt to pay service providers within 30 days.

The Committee was told the National Road Safety Strategy must be implemented, which includes strengthening roadworthiness mechanisms to ensure the safety of vehicles and road users, and strengthening law enforcement efforts and increase public engagement around road safety.
.
Ms Gina further supported the call in the meeting by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education for a roundtable discussion by all stakeholders on this matter. She said this will also give the Committee an opportunity to discuss the amendment of Regulation 250 of the National Road Traffic Act which prohibits bakkies from transporting people in certain circumstances.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Nomalungelo Gina