Voorsitter, die DA ondersteun die wysigingswetsontwerp, maar het twee punte van kritiek wat ons op rekord wil plaas.
Eerstens word die skoolhoof nou meer as vantevore belas met die finansile bestuur van die skool. 'n Beter oplossing sou wees om skole se beheerliggame tot groter verantwoordelikheid en verantwoordbaarheid te roep ten opsigte van skole se finansile bestuur.
Tweedens is die wysigings wat 'n verbod plaas op partypolitieke aktiwiteite gedurende skooltyd nie sterk genoeg om die vakbonde se bedrywighede gedurende skooltyd tot orde en verantwoordelikheid te roep nie. Die DA voel dat die departement en die Minister hier 'n geleentheid laat verbygaan het om die vakbonde tot orde te roep. Die rol van onderwysvakbonde, vra ons dan vandag, moet hersien word sodat die belange van die leerders altyd bo die belange van die lede van die vakbond sal sevier. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr D C SMILES: Chairperson, the DA supports the amending Bill, but has two points of criticism which we wish to place on record.
In the first place the headmaster is being burdened more than before with the school's financial management. A better solution would have been to call on bigger responsibility and accountability for school governing bodies in respect of the financial management of schools.
Secondly, the changes which impose a ban on party-political activities during school hours are not forceful enough to call the actions by trade unions during school hours to order and responsibility. The DA feels that here the department and the Minister have allowed an opportunity to slip by of calling the trade unions to order. Today we therefore ask for the role of teachers' unions to be reviewed so that the interests of the learners will always triumph over those of the union members.]
As previously mentioned here by one of the members of the ANC, section 28(2) of the Bill of Rights, under children's rights, provides, and I quote:
A child's best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
The Department of Basic Education should give effect to this clause when it comes to the activities of teachers' unions. If the department doesn't give effect to this clause, it will continue to allow teachers' unions like the SA Democratic Teachers' Union, Sadtu, to violate this constitutional imperative and, subsequently, to violate the best interests of the learners. Sadtu's strikes and disruptive activities make it impossible for South African students to enjoy their rights as learners and as children. Sadtu has to realise that every learner matters. The interests of the learner must be put first. It is the right thing to do, it is the constitutional thing to do, and it makes educational sense.
The quality of education, and ultimately learner outcomes, must be improved. The Department of Basic Education must do this without fear or favour for any trade union. Trade unions cannot be allowed to rule schools in a way that advances their own interests above those of the learners. The department must protect the learners in terms of this constitutional imperative.
The well-known Indian philosopher, Parthasarathy, says in his book The Fall of the Human Intellect that the three Cs to success are concentration, consistency and co-operation. These three disciplines have a vital role to play in order for an individual or an organisation to achieve success, productivity, progress and peace in any field of endeavour. The Department of Basic Education and the other provincial education departments should really take a leaf out of the book of the Western Cape Education Department. [Applause.] The departments must commit themselves to the three Cs, in addition to the "Three Ts", as required in the 2011 state of the nation address. It is the right thing to do.
It is also a positive step in reviving the education partnership that has collapsed over the last couple of years. Of utmost importance in this partnership is that between the learner and the teacher. In this partnership, the teacher must lead by example. This used to be the slogan of my teachers' union, the Cape Teachers' Professional Association, CTPA, which I belonged to and supported until the day the union decided to join Sadtu. Then I said goodbye to the union. It gave up its motto and dedication to professionalism in education to succumb to Sadtu's trade unionism. There are many teachers in Sadtu who want to put the interests of the learners first, but they are held hostage. They are mobilised and manipulated by the union to look at their interests above those of the learners.
This is one of the reasons why the education system in South Africa has gone wrong. South Africa wants teachers who concentrate on the task at hand, who consistently lead by example, and who co-operate positively, progressively and peacefully with other stakeholders. It is time to do the right thing: put the interests of the learners first.
Beka umsebenzi wabafundi kuqala. Phantsi ngomsebenzi weemanyano zabasebenzi! Ngena DA ngena! Phambili DA! [Put learners' interests first. Down with the business of workers' unions! go, DA, Go! Forward DA!]
I thank you. [Applause.]