Is the chairperson of this committee available to introduce the report? [Interjections.]
Hon Speaker, hon members, the petition that was submitted to Parliament and given to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the withdrawal of subsidies to six schools from the Eastern Cape was well considered by the committee.
As per the Constitution of the country, everybody has the right to establish and maintain independent educational institutions. However, there are very strident conditions under which an independent school must operate. When looking at the six schools that were submitted in the petition, it was found that one of those schools, that is St Jude's Private School in the Eastern Cape, had already received its subsidies. Five other schools, namely the Kings Commercial College, the Science College International School, the Christ the King International School, and St Martins Private School did not qualify for the subsidy owing to conditions they did not meet. One of the very important conditions that they must meet is that their Grade 12s must have at least a 50% pass rate, which the schools did not meet in 2010. Therefore their subsidies have been withdrawn. Fortunately, one of those schools, namely the Umtata College of Maths and Science, will be subsidised because there had been a mistake in the withdrawal of the subsidy.
It is part of our duty to make sure that all the schools that have applied to be independent schools do meet all the requirements that are put forward. We are very proud as the committee to close the issue on the petition by saying that all those schools should reapply once they have met the conditions needed for them to be independent schools. We are very sorry about the Umtata College of Maths and Science, but they are going to receive their subsidies in due course. Thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Hon Speaker, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Are there any objections? Hon member?
No objections, Mr Speaker.
So, why are you rising? [Laughter.]
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.