Hon Chair, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, our guests, the young scientists, the Department of Science and Technology, good afternoon. The ANC-led government adopted 12 key outcomes to focus on between 2010 and 2014 and has prioritised the improvement of the quality of basic education as outcome one, out of a total of 20 outcomes. This means that basic education is the top priority of this administration.
One of the key challenges faced by the basic education sector is improving the quality of learning outcomes in schools, in terms of improved learner performance. A substantive amount of energy has been spent in the last few years to improve youth participation and performance in mathematics, science and technology education. The level of success and achievement is still very low in comparison to the country's needs and the majority of those affected come from poor backgrounds. The recently released World Economic Forum Global Information Technology Report 2013 ranks South Africa's maths and science education second last in the world. The report added that South Africa's costly access to information and communication technology is hampering its competitiveness and success. The hon Minister indicated earlier that Cabinet approved the information and communication technology research development and innovation implementation roadmap at the end of April 2012. The main goal of this roadmap is to facilitate increased public and private investment.
Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo naMalungu ale Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho neendwendwe zethu ezibalulekileyo, kungumnqa namhlanje ukuba kuthiwe sililizwe lesibini ukusuka emazantsi kwiZibalo neNzululwazi, abathi xa bakhumshayo, Maths and Science. Ilityelwe eyokuba sisuka phi sileli lizwe. Sisuka phi sileli lizwe nobu burhulumente obukhokelwa yi-ANC? Ngomhla we-17 kweyoMsintsi ngowe- 1953, wayemi apha ohloniphekileyo uH F Verwoed wathi, "Akubalulekanga ukumfundisa umntwana womntu ontsundu iZibalo neNzululwazi." [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Ndithi ke loo nto masimane sizikhumbuza ukwenzela ukuba sithi xa sibheka phambili siqinisekise ukuba zonke iinkqubo ezibekwe bobu burhulumente obukhokelwe yi-ANC, zilungisa loo monakalo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Ndiza kuthi ngumonakalo kuba namhlanje xa umzukulwana wam esiza nomsebenzi wesikolo wasekhaya esithi mandimncedise kwiZibalo neNzululwazi, andazi nto mna kuba kaloku ndingomnye waloo maxhoba aloo monakalo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Kwahlekwa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, hon members of this House and esteemed guests, it is surprising to hear today that South Africa ranks second last in mathematics and Science education. It is forgotten how far we have come as a country. How far have we come as this country and the ANC-led government, one might ask? On 17 September, 1953, from this podium, hon H F Verwoerd said, "What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics and science when it cannot use it in practice?" [Applause.]
From time to time we must remind ourselves of these things so as to make sure that going forward, all programmes that are put in place by the ANC- led government redress such damage. [Applause.] I am using the word "damage" because today, when my grandchild brings mathematics and science homework, I cannot help the child because I know nothing about these subjects; I am one of the victims of the damaging impact of such educational policy. [Applause.] [Laughter.]]
The Department of Science and Technology developed a Youth into Science strategy to enhance science and technology literacy among the public in general and the youth in particular and to enrol more young people with talent and potential in science, engineering and technology-based careers.
Ndicela ukuyikhumbuza le Ndlu yoWiso-mthetho yoMzantsi Afrika ukuba ukuba andiphazami ngonyaka wama-2010 kwabakho abafana ababini abamhlophe abakha iigliders. Isizathu saloo nto yinto yokuba abazali babo babavumela ukuba badlale phaya egaraji, badibanise nantoni na abanokuthi bayidibanise. Ngaloo nto kwakukhangelwa ukuba zeziphi izakhono abanazo. Yiyo loo nto ke obu burhulumente obukhokelwa yi-ANC bunamaziko enzululwazi nobuchwepheshe, [science centres.]. Iinjongo zala maziko kukuqinisekisa ukuba njengokuba abafundisi-ntsapho, abakwangamaxhoba eBantu Education Act, No 47, 1953, eyayisithi uze ungamfundisi umntwana womntu ontsundu iZibalo neNzululwazi, kufuneka ke bahambe bakhuthazwe ukuba bazifunde ezo zifundo.
Yiyo loo nto kukho into ethi xa ikhunyushwa ngabantu bezeNzululwazi nobuChwephesha bathi yiScience Week. Ezaa Veki zeNzululwazi [science week] bantu baseMzantsi Afrika, siyikomiti yeScience and Technology sithi yiyani kuzo kuba ziza kuninceda ukuphuhlisa le ngqondo eninayo yemveli. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Ndathi xa ndimamele kumabonakude kwathiwa kukho umzobo owenziwe ngoomama bamaNdebele. Xa ujonga kwezaa zindlu bazikalikayo bezihombisa ngaloo mizobo kuthiwa zii-organic mathematicians. Kufuneka ke sizikhuthaze ezi-organic mathematicians. Aba mama basemakhaya xa behleli kufuneka sibaxelele ukuba mabaye kula maziko eNzululwazi ukwenzela ukuba bakwazi ukutshintsha ubomi babo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[I would like to remind the National Assembly that in 2010, if I am not mistaken, two white young men created gliders. Their parents had allowed them to play in the garage and use whatever they could lay their hands on to come up with something. This was a way of testing their skills. That is why the ANC-led government has science and technology centres. The purpose of these centres is to ensure that black teachers, themselves victims of the Bantu Education Act, Act No 47 of 1953, which forbade the teaching of mathematics and science to a black child, are encouraged to learn these two subjects.
That is why we have what is called the National Science Week. As the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology we encourage the South African public to participate in the National Science Week as this will help them to develop their natural intellect. [Applause.] I once saw on TV Ndebele house paintings by Ndebele women, who were referred to as "organic mathematicians". We must support these "organic mathematicians". We should also advise women who are housewives to go to science centres where they will be able to turn their lives around. [Applause.]]
Through its work, the Department of Science and Technology regards a national network of science centres as the ideal infrastructure for the delivery of science, public awareness and youth development programmes aimed at improving the quality of education outcomes.
Namhlanje kumiwe apha ngabahlobo bam abangasekunxele besithi akukho nto yenziwa ngulo rhulumunte. ISebe lezeMfundo esiSiseko linenkqubo ethi Dinaledi Schools apho thina siliSebe leNzululwazi nobuChwepheshe sincedisayo kuyo. Isizathu salonto sesokuba loo kurhulumente wathi uyawubona umonakalo abantwana bethu abakuwo. Kuyanyanzeleka ke ukuba sincedise ngokuthi sithathe izikolo esiza kuthi sizilungiselele ukuvavanywa ukuze zikwazi ukuphumelela iZibalo nezeNzululwazi. ISebe lezeNzululwazi noBuchwepheshe lenza loo nto. Kungumnqa namhlanje ukuba abahlobo bam bekomiti bangama apha bayibuze loo nto.
Kubalulekile ke, Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo weNdlu, ukuba sitsho ukuba eli sebe lisebe abathi xa bekhumsha bathi lithi- cut across all departments. Okubalulekileyo kukuba onke amasebe ayazi ukuba ukuze iimfuno zawo namagunya awo aphumelele makasondele kufutshane. Ndiyavuya xa ndimi kule ndawo, ndibabona abantwana abancinci, amantombazana namakhwenkwe eli lizwe, amadoda namankazana eli lizwe, amhlophe nantsundu, xa beze kumamela xa sisithi sibanika uxanduva lokuba babonise ilizwe ukuba, ukuba ngaba wonke umntu uyazimisela kwezeNzululwazi nezoBuchwepheshe akangekhe ahlale ecaleni kwendlu agcakamele ilanga. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Mandenze umzekelo omncinci, kubakho into apha kuthiwe abantu baya kwaChicks. Uyakuyazi ke ohloniphekileyo uNqaba kuba usuka eBhayi. Xa besiya phaya kwaChicks, bayokuthengisa izinto abacinga ukuba azinakwenza nto. Bazithengise ngemali engekhoyo, bafumane nje i-R100. Kodwa ukuba ngaba aba bantu bebesondela phaya kula maziko enzululwazi, babone ukuba yintoni na abanokuyidibanisa nenye into kuphume into entsha onokuthi njengokuba ubuza kuthengisa le glasi nge-R100 kodwa xa idityaniswe nezinye izinto, unako ukuba ungafumana ngaphezulu kwama-R100 000. Bangacinga ke ukuba abantu ndibalisa intsomi. Yiyo ke loo nto sikhuthaza, sisithi siyavuya thina silisebe, singamaLungu ekomiti yasePalamente xa kanye eCofimvaba kuza kubakho iziko lokuphuhlisa abantu. ECofimvaba ezilalini. [Kwaqhwatywa.] ECofimvaba, apho abantu bacinga ukuba akunakuphuma nto. Apho kunokuphuma khona izazinzulu, iiNjineli, ootitshala abanokukwazi ukuba bafundise abantwana iZibalo.
Siyacela ke kwiNdlu yonke, sicela nalapha kwimibutho ephikasayo ukuba mabazi ukuba ukuphuhlisa okanye ukufundisa abantwana - phofu Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo andibaceli, ndicela umngeni apha kubo wokuba njengokuba bebenethamsanqa lokuba bona iZibalo neNzululwazi bebezifunda besebancinci, ndicela umngeni ke ngoku wokuba wonke umntwana walapha eMzantsi Afrika, ngokungakhethi bala, omhlophe nontsundu, isini okanye umgangatho wokuphila makathi xa ephuma ephakama, kwisizukulwana esilandelayo singabinengxaki yokuba ngoobani na abantu, bangaphi na abantu esinabo abazi inzululwazi obuchwepheshe.
Ixesha lutshaba, kuba ukuba besinalo ixesha besiza kuzitsho zonke sibaxele nabantu esibaziyo ukuba baye baphuhliswa bafunda besuka ezilalini. Xa ndiza kusuka mandibize intombazana enguLifukazi Ngcwangu. Ngelishwa ayizanga apha. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Today, my friends on my left stood here and said that this government is doing nothing. The Department of Basic Education has the Dinaledi Schools project which we as the Department of Science and Technology provide assistance with. The reason we have this project is that this government realised the dire circumstances our children are in. We therefore have to assist by helping prepare schools for testing so that they can do well in mathematics and science. The Department of Science and Technology does exactly that. It is surprising that my fellow committee members can stand here and question that.
It is important, therefore, hon Chairperson, that we mention that our department is what is referred to as "cutting across all departments". What is important is for all departments to note that they have to work closely with this department in order for their needs and mandates to be fulfilled. Standing here, I am happy to see small children, girls and boys and men and women of this country, white and black, who have come to listen to us, and we challenge them to show the country that if one is serious about science and technology, one can never sit idly at home. [Applause.]
Let me just give a small example. Some people take stuff to Chicks Scrap Metal. Hon Mzwenqaba Bhanga knows about Chicks Scrap Metal because he is from Port Elizabeth. People take stuff to Chicks that they think cannot be used any more and sell it for next to nothing, let's say R100. However, if these people were to work closely with the science centres, they would learn to put these materials together to produce something more valuable that they could sell for over R100 000, instead of one material for only R100. I am not making up a story here. It is for that reason that we as the department and members of the portfolio committee are happy that there is going to be a community development centre at Cofimvaba in the rural areas, a place people do not expect to produce anything of value. [Applause.] This area can produce intellectuals and engineers, and teachers that can teach mathematics.
I appeal to the entire House, including the opposition parties - in fact, Chairperson, this is not an appeal, but a challenge to members of the opposition, because they were fortunate to be taught mathematics and science at a young age - to understand the importance of developing or educating children. Every South African child, regardless of race, gender or social class, should be taught mathematics and science so that in future we do not have problems due to small numbers of people with science and technology education.
I am running out of time, otherwise I would have quoted a few examples of people that come from rural areas that were developed in this way. Before I leave the podium, let me mention a young girl by the name of Lifukazi Ngcwangu. Unfortunately she is not here.]
When she applied to study medical technology at the Port Elizabeth Technikon at the time, she was requested to apply to the then Minister of Education to state reasons why, being a female and a black student, she wanted to study medical technology at Port Elizabeth Technikon. It took her a year and a half to receive a response. Never again! Never in this government, never again in this country, never again in Africa will children have to ask permission to study and improve their social conditions in life. [Applause.]
Masimbulele uMlawuli Jikelele, umfana omncinci, osinyamezeleyo. Siwabulele amaqela, simbulele nohloniphekileyo uSmith ngokuthi angqine ukuba eli sebe liyawenza umsebenzi omhle. Ndimcele ohloniphekileyo umhlobo wam, ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Let us thank the director-general, a young man, for putting up with us. We also thank the parties, including hon Smith, for concurring that the department is doing a good job. I appeal to my honourable friend ...]
... she knows I cannot pronounce her surname, but only her name - hon Juanita, that in fact she will have to understand that this department has a mammoth task, and together in science and technology, united as we have always been, we ensure that we support the Ministry. We must also ensure that we play our oversight role in such a way that this government and this country see the importance of science and technology, as outlined in the National Development Plan.
I-ANC ke xa ndime apha, ithi iyayixhasa le Voti yoHlahlo-lwabiwo-mali, imcela noMphathiswa weSebe lezeziMali ukuba akhe aphinde ajonge ukuba ugalela kangakanani na engxoweni ukwenzela ukuba isebe eli likwazi ukwenza umsebenzi walo ngokupheleleyo nangokufanelekileyo. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[The ANC supports this Budget Vote and appeals to the Minister of Finance to consider the allocation he gives the department so that it will be able to carry out its work fully and efficiently. I thank you. [Applause.]]