Mr Speaker, the Department of Basic Education seeks to gazette new science curriculum statements for Grades 4 to 6 and Grades 7 to 9 that, for some odd reason, make no reference at all to concepts fundamental to biochemistry and environmental science, such as evaporation, condensation, the water cycle, expansion and contraction. These concepts are absent from the curriculum and have also not been set down for teachers to teach either.
I am not the first person to identify this quite fundamental problem. I know of at least five approaches led by the Publishers' Association of SA, academic bodies, provincial education officials, science teachers and private individuals that acted at the Department of Basic Education.
These well-intentioned approaches have had no effect. Departmental officials are simply not interested. Many have joined the conference and seminar circuit, instead of focusing on supporting the teachers who will, if they are not intellectually vigilant, give miseducation to our learners.
The fact is that it is the absence of such fundamental concepts from the curriculum that makes a mockery of our much-needed efforts to turn around mathematics and science teaching. Minister Angie Motshekga must explain why such shoddy work is allowed to pass. She must explain why her department officials play games, through sheer neglect, with the intellectual development of this nation's learners. [Applause.]