Chair, the ACDP believes that the future of our country is dependent, to a large degree, on the skills of our people and the strength of our education system. Therefore, we will support this Vote.
The ACDP places on record that we do not support extended teacher and learner boycotts, which effectively hold the education and future of learners to ransom. At the same time we do expect government to play its role in ensuring that educators are adequately remunerated.
We recognise that a vibrant higher education sector is crucial to economic development. We support the significant subsidisation of higher education institutions and an increase in the Student Financial Aid Scheme.
We acknowledge, however, that there are still too many children being disadvantaged because of failing or underachieving schools. We, in the ACDP, are of the opinion that if we want to see these results change, we need a more intense focus on literacy and numeracy lessons, improved teacher-pupil ratios and increased training and pay for teachers.
The ACDP would like to see a greater move towards investing in intra and extramural activities such as dance, drama, music, sport, languages, etc, through the development of extended schools. Communities can provide a range of family and learning services.
Adult education could benefit from these hubs of family learning too, especially if programmes offered have greater relevance. Abet appears to have pretty much failed to date, and a much-needed review, with a view to improving access, retention and throughput rates, is overdue. The need to raise levels of adult literacy and numeracy is critical, but a more creative approach is necessary.
Special education needs are still not being adequately provided for and the ACDP adds its voice to calls for government to ensure that every child has the opportunity to fulfil his or her potential. The need for both special schools and mainstream schools to be made available and to be suitably resourced is urgent. Yet the budget does not appear to address this adequately. I thank you. [Time expired.]