Chair, let me hurry to say that the IFP supports Vote 15 of the Department of Basic Education.
We support the Minister's intention - in her own words - to radically transform the department, of course trusting that we attach similar meanings to the concept of radical transformation.
Having said that, there are three issues that are of major concern to the IFP. The first is the post of director-general, which to date has not been filled. We plead with the department to urgently fill that post.
The second issue is that of incentives for rural educators. This was a very important intervention by the department. What it lacks are norms and standards. Provinces apply these differently. In fact, some provinces like KwaZulu-Natal are jettisoning this important intervention. Therefore, we ask the department to urgently come up with norms and standards so that provinces could be guided on this issue.
The third issue concerns the employment process of educators. We request the Minister to radically transform this process and to do away with the observer status which, up to now, has been accorded to teacher unions. This same observer status has led to partisanship and nepotism, and has eventually led to the employment of the wrong people in the wrong position. That, in turn, has, of course, led to inefficiencies in our whole education system. Thank you. [Applause.]