Mevrou die Voorsitter, agb Minister, as die Nuwe NP die wetsontwerp steun, is dit vanselfsprekend dat die provinsie Wes-Kaap ook die wetsontwerp steun. Die Wes-Kaapse regering glo dat opvoeders 'n baie edel professie beklee en dat professionele ontwikkeling gereeld bevorder moet word. Verder glo die Wes-Kaapse regering dat die etiese en professionele standaarde vir opvoeders in stand gehou en beskerm moet word.
Hierdie wetsontwerp sal toesien dat hierdie raad die regte status en erkenning geniet. Die feit dat die raad saamgestel word uit lede van die onderwysgemeenskap van die land is 'n bewys dat daar erkenning gegee word aan al die onderwysrolspelers.
Wat my egter 'n bietjie bekommer, is die feit dat die Minister die voorsitter van die raad sal aanstel soos bepaal deur klousule 7(1)(a) van die wetsontwerp. Wat my nog verder bekommer, is dat selfs iemand wat nie 'n lid is van die raad nie, as voorsitter van die raad genomineer kan word soos uitgespel word in klousule 7(1)(b).
Die ondervinding in die onderwys het geleer dat aanstellings deur Ministers baie dikwels tot groot ongelukkigheid kan aanleiding gee; dat so 'n persoon selfs met agterdog bejen word; dat so 'n persoon se geloofwaardigheid baie dikwels onder verdenking kom, en dat so 'n persoon heel dikwels nie die volle samewerking van die res van 'n raad of vereniging kry nie. Ek wil aanbeveel dat die raad nie net die nominasie sal doen van 'n voorsitter nie, maar dat die onderwysgemeenskap waaruit die raad saamgestel sal word, ook die verkiesing van die voorsitter uit eie geledere sal waarneem.
Dit is goed dat die professionaliteit van die onderwysprofessie gerel word deur 'n raad wat uit lede van die onderwysgemeenskap kom. Hierdie raad moet uiteraard 'n liggaam wees waarin lede van die onderwysgemeenskap die professie se sake sal rel.
Daardie lede van die raad wat in die tugkomitee moet dien, sal uit die aard van hulle werksaamhede nie baie gewild wees nie. Die bre onderwysgemeenskap daar buite sal die raad en veral sy komitees met arendso dophou om te kyk of hulle hul taak met die nodige professionalisme en deeglikheid gaan uitvoer. Omdat goeie orde en dissipline noodsaaklik is vir suksesvolle onderwys, sal die tugkomitee hom uiteraard die gramskap van diegene op die hals haal wat goeie orde en dissipline met chaos wil vervang. Daar moet sonder aansiens des persoons opgetree word teen individue wat chaos wil veroorsaak in die onderwys.
Daar was in die verlede die geneigdheid by sommige onderwysorganisasies om vir lede wat hulle skuldig gemaak het aan erge voorvalle van ongedissiplineerdheid in die bres te tree. Ek wil 'n vriendelike versoek tot ons onderwysorganisasies rig om hulle te distansieer van diegene wat 'n struikelblok wil wees in die weg van doeltreffende en effektiewe onderrig aan ons leerders.
Omdat die speelveld in die onderwys nog baie ongelyk is, is dit noodsaaklik dat ons as onderwysgemeenskap kollektief sal saamwerk om die speelveld in die onderwys gelyk te maak sodat opvoeders dit nie as 'n verskoning kan gebruik wanneer hulle oorgaan tot gedrag wat nie van professionalisme getuig nie. Ten slotte wil ek net herhaal dat die Wes-Kaap hierdie wetsontwerp steun. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr A B WILLIAMS: Madam Chair, hon Minister, if the New NP supports the Bill, it is obvious that the Western Cape Province also supports the Bill. The Western Cape government believes that educators have a very noble profession and that professional development should be promoted regularly. Furthermore, the Western Cape government believes that the ethical and professional standards for educators should be maintained and protected.
This Bill will ensure that this council enjoys the appropriate status and recognition. The fact that the council is composed of members of the teaching community of the country proves that recognition is being given to all the education role-players.
Something I feel a little concerned about, however, is the fact that the Minister will appoint the chairperson, as prescribed by clause 7(1)(a) of the Bill. What causes me even more concern is that even a person who is not a member of the council may be nominated as chairperson of the council, as stipulated in clause 7(1)(b). Experience in education has shown that appointments by Ministers can very often lead to a lot of unhappiness; that such a person might even be regarded with suspicion; that the credibility of such a person is very often in doubt, and that such a person very often does not enjoy the full co-operation of the rest of the council or association. I want to recommend that the council not only nominates a chairperson, but that the teaching community, whose members will constitute the council, will also observe the election of the chairperson from its own ranks.
It is a good thing for the professionalism of the teaching profession to be regulated by a council consisting of members of the teaching community. This council must obviously be a body in which members of the teaching community will be regulating the affairs of the profession.
Those members of the council who have to serve on the disciplinary committee will, by virtue of their functions, not be very popular. The broader teaching community will have to keep a watchful eye on the council and especially on its committees to see whether they perform their task with the necessary professionalism and thoroughness. Because good order and discipline are essential for successful education, the disciplinary committee will obviously incur the wrath of those who want to replace good order and discipline with chaos. Steps will have to be taken without fear or favour against individuals who want to cause chaos in education.
In the past there was a tendency in some education organisations to defend members who were guilty of severely undisciplined behaviour. I want to address a friendly request to our education organisations to distance themselves from those who want to hamper efficient and effective education for our learners.
Because the playing field in education is still very uneven, it is essential that we, as the teaching community, work together to level the playing field in education so that educators cannot use that as an excuse when they indulge in behaviour that is unprofessional.
In conclusion I just want to repeat that the Western Cape supports this Bill.]