Chairperson, the DA does not support the Budget Vote for the following reasons. Firstly, not enough emphasis has been placed on learners with special educational needs or the in-service training of and assistance to teachers to provide for mother tongue education for learners from Grade R to 6. Secondly, not enough emphasis has been placed on the provision of a library and librarian for each school in our country. The amount required is R2,2 billion per year for a period of 10 years.
Thirdly, the DA is also concerned about the money that was allocated to the department for workbooks for Grades R to 6 when the adjustment appropriation was conducted in October 2009.
These books will no longer be published by publishing companies. The tender was cancelled in December 2009. It was announced at the recent portfolio committee meeting that these books are currently being developed by the department. How will the approved sum of R254 million be spent? Will it be more of a cost-saving exercise? Will it be done according to regional specifications? Will there be a surplus? We need answers.
Fourthly, money spent on teachers' salaries is wasted when those teachers do not attend schools due to union activities without the department taking action.
Finally, given the dismal state of education in our country, it is certain that there is not enough money in this budget for basic education; more money is required to meet the many neglected needs. The DA provided for these needs in its alternative budget by adding an additional R1,4 billion to the amount appropriated. It is possible to put more money in education. If government's overall spending programme was more efficient ... [Time expired.]