Chairperson, Cope cannot support this Budget Vote because Education has, during the past three years, received the biggest slice of the Budget but failed to deliver on quality education. Our education system continues to be crippled by poor administration, lack of infrastructure, frequent policy changes and corrupt tender practices.
The Minister of Basic Education continues to violate the Constitution and she denies millions of South African children access to quality education. A lack of learner material and poor school infrastructure must be cited as part of learners' deprivation of quality teaching and learning. The lack of adequate school infrastructure remains a serious constraint to teaching. Thousands of schools have no functioning ablution facilities, no libraries and no laboratories. They are still without textbook delivery, etc. How can we then blame the children for the poor results?
The Minister demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the judiciary, despite the settlement agreement endorsed by the Bisho High Court that she would publish the minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure by 15 May 2013. She failed to do that. Judge Duguda of the Bisho High Court has now agreed to hear the matter on an urgent basis. We do not support this. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]