I am happy, Chairperson, if the hon member says I must read this, because it means that whatever he says is something that he has read. I do not know though, because when we went out there with hon Smiles we all did everything.]
So, when it comes to other challenges, yes, we can agree that we still need to do more. We still need to make sure that the ECD practitioners are well trained. We still need to make sure that the curriculum is well developed. But even at the same time, we would like to commend the Minister's department. We see for the first time learner workbooks being provided for that section of our education. [Applause.] That is the basics of our education. That is where we all agree that we need to intensify and make sure that we lay a solid background for ECD, and we are seeing great strides towards that.
Sometimes it is very disturbing to see a person coming here to grandstand whilst knowing very well that much progress is being made when it comes to that. The total budget set aside for the 2013-14 financial year for this branch, branch number five, for social activities for basic education is R5,187 million ... [Interjections.] ... yes it is too big. [Laughter.] The bulk of that budget is earmarked for the National School Nutrition Programme Conditional Grant, NSNP. The NSNP grant caters for our learners' meals. The NSNP has already reached over eight million learners and is currently in more than 20 520 schools nationally in quintiles 1 to 3 primary schools and quintiles 1 to 2 secondary schools.
The programme has been extended to include quintile 3 secondary schools in the 2011-12 financial year. We need to stand tall in acknowledging the huge impact the programme is making. The spin-offs from this programme are huge. For instance, when we look at the spin-offs from this programme, we see a huge drop in the drop-out rate of learners, because we understand that learners cannot go to school hungry. This is one of the benefits we get from this huge programme the department has come up with.
The project has become the trademark of healthy eating in our schools through offering quality meals. This programme has created jobs for thousands of food handlers and continues to empower small, medium and micro enterprises that are service providers at our schools. While our children are getting healthier, more jobs are being created and the local economies are growing. We now have few, if not no, cases of nonfeeding across the country. However, we commend the Minister for the launch of the department's partnership with one of the big businesses, Tiger Brands, in the initiative to provide breakfast to our learners. This has also shown much fruit being reaped from that.
The level of latecoming has dropped, because learners know that in the instances where this initiative has been started, they get breakfast, which compels them to arrive at school early. Thus the fruits we envisage are that more quality education is going to be received in our schools.
Lastly, there is the issue of sports. When it comes to our schools, we need to commend the Department of Basic Education for the brave stance they have taken in making sure that physical education and sport are part of the curriculum at school. We urge the Department of Sport and Recreation to come on board and make sure that they cater for that. We further urge municipalities out there to make sure that sports grounds are provided for education. That is one of the strides that the department has made when it comes to these social responsibilities of theirs.
All in all, we need to applaud. It has never happened before in history that we look at these activities, which are more than the core duties of education, being performed the way they are. I think that the department, led by Minister Angie Motshekga, should be applauded when it comes to these activities in our schools. [Applause.] Since I have a minute left, allow me, Chairperson, to respond again or to comment on what hon Mfundisi came up here to say today.
Bab'uMfundisi, kuhle ukuthi uma ugxeka, ugxeke ube wazi ukuthi okugxekayo kuyiqiniso kangakanani. Ukuma kwakho la uzokhuluma ngezikole ezingakhiwe - ngiyajabula ngoba siwuKhongolose ... [Mr Mfundisi, it is good that when one criticizes, one should know the facts about what one is criticizing. For you to come up here and talk about schools that have not been built - I am happy because, as the ANC ...]
... we do acknowledge that we still have shortcomings, but...
... umsebenzi awumile kangangokuthi ayisekho into eyenzekayo. NoNgqongqoshe naye ukwazile ukuma la abe nesibindi sokukusho lokho. Kodwa engifisa... [Ubuwelewele.] [... the work is not standing still to the extent that nothing is happening. Even the Minister was able to stand here and be brave enough to say that. But I wish ... [Interjections.]]
The ANC supports this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]