Hon Chair, we extend our best wishes to the Minister in the new position. Hon Minister, it is our concern
that despite the best intentions of government that this education budget is throwing good money into a failed system. According to the World Economic Forum, South Africa scored second to last in quality of Africa's education systems. Most of our learners cannot read with comprehension. Children finishing school, who does not gain university entry or entry to other tertiary institutions are doomed to take employment that limits their ability to be self-sustaining or live a prosperous life. Our system do not render the outcome South Africa needs - that is more learners pursuing careers in areas critical to our economy. It is imperative for us to fast-track programmes that will enhance learners' numeracy and abstract reasoning abilities.
The ACDP is calling for a change to the education system to one like the Cambridge system proven to be most effective in turning out well rounded and educated learners. In addition, we are calling on the government to increase the amount of skills schools that trains learners in skill functions fit for purpose. Surely, we need to attend to this with urgency as it affects the most vulnerable of our children. Right now, as we are debating
in this House, we are losing young men and women to the drug economy. We need integrated solutions in order to increase retaining learners in school. A learner stimulated in school is less prone to fall victim to the lure of drugs.
The current plan of the department to revise Life Orientation and introduce comprehensive sexual education from Grade 4 is not only morally repulsive, but it is an imposition by the state on the role of parents. The greatest gift we give the world is our children and the greatest gift we give our children is education. For this nation to raise world-class leaders and give the world more Nelson Mandelas, we cannot morally paralyse them.
Our children should be taught our values as Africans. We cannot sell confusion and moral retardation and hope for an upright well-adjusted generation. Most of us in these walls have been inspired to high ideals by great teachers.
Hon Minister and this House, we need to therefore ensure that we inspire a new generation of teachers as we seek to transform the education sector. I thank you.