Hon Deputy Speaker, we will be publishing the Norms and Standards for Infrastructure next week, which will include that information. We are saying that the timeframe which the country will think is reasonably feasible will be around the period that has been aligned by the NDP. You are quite correct that our kids' future cannot wait for the NDP, so what I am saying is that we need, as a nation, as parents and as schools, to find ways of dealing with these things.
For instance, in reference to mathematics and science, we are not waiting for the system to roll out laboratories; we are using science kits.
In classrooms, we are not going to wait for the system to roll out libraries. We are using book corners, book pockets and reading clubs because their future can't wait until such time that the infrastructure is in place. The infrastructure is another process but what we are doing now is to ask how we respond in a way that does not rob our kids of their future.
There are different ways. We can use mobile libraries, book clubs and all sorts of measures that are feasible and possible. I am really grateful that members raised this question after Book Week. Let's stand up as a country, not only as a department. Let's take reading seriously. I've seen people reading newspapers from the back. They never buy their kids books as present. They buy cellphones for them and not calculators. There is also a bad culture in the country around the value ascribed to education and reading.
I am saying we should deal with infrastructure separately. Let's focus on what we can do currently, both as a department and as a nation, because this is a national crisis and not only an educational crisis. If only 5% read, it's a national crisis.
Particulars regarding strike at Walter Sisulu University
281. Dr A Lotriet (DA) asked the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
(a) For how long has the strike at the Walter Sisulu University been going on and (b) how many man-days have been lost in total?