Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy President, our hon Ministers and our Deputy Ministers, hon members and comrades, having conducted an oversight visit to full-service and special schools in the North West and Mpumalanga and having considered issues that are highlighted in the report in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education recommends the following actions.
One, the national Department of Basic Education, together with the provincial education departments, should intensify teacher training in the specialised area of special needs and take into account the varying levels of training needs of the different schools; two, the national Department of Basic Education, together with the provincial departments of education, should expedite and scale up the implementation of the curriculum that responds to the skills subjects offered in special schools; three, given that transport is one of the keys to access, it is critical that the provincial education departments, together with the Department of Transport, make transport arrangements to ensure that learners with special needs are able to travel to and from school.
Transport subsidies must be one of the components of the budget of full- service in special schools. The national department, together with the provincial education departments, should deliver timeously to schools sufficient learner and teacher-support material, including workbooks.
The national department should make representations to ensure that sign language becomes an official language in order to enhance quality learning and teaching. The committee requests Parliament to adopt the report of this committee. Thank you.
There was no debate.
Hon House Chairperson, hon Deputy President, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.