Acting Speaker, we believe that all reasonable people realise that students lost much time for study during the Public Service strike. The Department of Education has come up with measures to catch up for the time lost, yet it is unfortunate that there are instances of disapproval, even from some teachers' organisations.
The proverbial caveat to the general is demonstrated by some students in whose interests these arrangements are made. Instead of taking advantage of the recovery plans, the Congress of South African Students displays a defeatist attitude. They already feel that they will not do well in the examinations.
This student organisation wants the department to disclose the contents of the final matriculation examinations to the prospective candidates. The demand is ludicrous, to say the least. Students have to learn that quality education and qualifications are obtained through hard work. No amount of disclosing question papers will make them men and women of substance.
The UCDP calls on all teachers to take pride in their teaching and demand excellence through hard work from their students. Similarly, students should brace themselves to achieve better results and not look forward to being ascribed the status of having passed when in fact they have not.
Those threatening to use their brawn to disrupt examinations should rather use their brains in tackling books and refrain from blackmailing the department. I thank you.