Chairperson, while adhering to the prescripts of the South African Schools Act, Act No 84 of 1996, the Department of Basic Education has called for the election of school governing bodies in our schools. Prior to 1994, educators, learners, parents and communities were largely excluded from school governance. However, with the establishment of the South African Schools Act, all public schools are required to have an SGB, democratically elected by members of the community.
The month of March is set aside for the election of school governing bodies in all the 24 000 public schools. SGB elections is recorded among the elections of national importance that our country undertakes and the Independent Electoral Commission has been brought in to monitor the election process in all provinces. The Department of Basic Education calls on all systems, not parents alone, "to play a part in the support of quality learning and teaching" by using your vote in the SGB elections from 1 to 31 March 2012. We should always remember that learner achievement is also dependent on the level of support and active involvement of parents and members of the community. Therefore the ANC calls upon on all parents and community members to participate and get involved in the day-to-day running of the schools their children attend. [Applause.]