Chaiperson, fourteen-and-a-half years into our democracy we can stand tall as a nation for we have recorded monumental achievements. Yes, we have reason to be proud for in such a short space of time we have managed to propel our country forward; yet we also know that a lot still needs to be done to further improve the quality of life of our people.
As I stand here today on the eve of the fourth national election we have no doubt that our people will give the ANC a further mandate to improve their conditions for they know no other party can do so. [Interjections.]
The education Bills before this House today complete a revolution in the education landscape of our country. After our government realised that there was no coherent strategic direction with regard to qualifications and that some interested groups, for their own selfish interests, were duping the SA Qualifications Authority, Saqa, into recognising qualifications and programmes which have no value for our economy, the Ministers of Education and Labour commissioned a review of the Saqa in 1995.
The National Qualifications Framework Bill before this House today is a product of that seven-year-long review process. It was indeed found that there were gaps in the implementation of the Saqa Act. They, therefore, deemed it fit to come up with the new policy which is embodied in this Bill. The objectives of this policy are to integrate all elements of the education and training system; to enable learners to progress to higher levels from any starting point; to enable learners to transfer credits from one part of the system to another; to allow for assessment and recognition of prior learning and skills acquired through experience; and to enable curricula to cut across traditional divisions of skills and knowledge.
The other shortcoming of the Saqa today is that it requires the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour to agree on various matters before anything can be done. Practice has proved that that is a recipe for disaster, because if there is no agreement there will be no movement. The new Bill gives each Minister a separate sphere of responsibility while it also requires them to co-operate and collaborate.
The Bill establishes three sectoral quality councils, that is Umalusi for the general and further education and training sector; and the Council on Higher Education for the higher education sector. Members will know that Umalusi and the Council on Higher Education are already in existence.
The third quality council still to be established will be for the trades and occupation sector. The first two quality councils are under the stewardship of the Minister of Education while the third is the responsibility of the Minister of Labour. The two other Bills before this House, the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Amendment Bill and the Higher Education Amendment Bill, are consequential amendments to allow Umalusi and the Council on Higher Education to become quality councils for general and further education and for higher education respectively.
In conclusion, we want to take this opportunity to wish all matriculants well in their examinations. The class of 2008, among whom is my daughter, are trailblazers as they are the first matriculants of the new National Curriculum Statements. We commend these Bills to this House. I thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the National Qualifications Framework Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
ABSTAIN: Gauteng, Limpopo.
National Qualifications Framework Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Amendment Bill be agreed to
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
ABSTAIN: Gauteng, Limpopo.
General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Amendment Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Higher Education Amendment Bill be agreed to.
Higher Education Amendment Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.