Deputy Speaker, first of all, let me take this opportunity once more to thank the ANC for working very hard in leading the processing of this Bill, as well as for its support and proper grasp of what the intention of this Bill is.
Ngibonge nakuwe bab'uMpontshane, angazi ibuye ixabanephi thina nawe ngoba uyayibamba lapho kufanele uyibambe khona. Kule ndawana yemfundo, ongathi siyazwana. Engathi kungahlala kunjalo ngoba le nto esiyenzayo siyenzela izingane zethu. Kodwa asigcini futhi ukuyenzela izingane zethu, siyenzela lungu elihloniphekile Trollip, abantu abadala bakithi.
Ngifuna ukuyichaza le nto yemfundo yabadala. Aniyazi ukuthi yini. Okokuqala ukuthi zonke izikhungo zefundo yabadala zisebenza ngendlela ephula imithetho. Ake ngithi nje iningi lazo ngoba ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Thank you, Mr Mpontshane. I don't know why we sometimes view things differently, because when you are given a task, you carry it out diligently. With regard to the issue of education, we seem to be on the same page. I wish that it will remain that way because we do what we are doing for our children, but we don't only do it for them, hon Trollip. We also do it for our elderly.
I want to explain the issue of Adult Basic Education and Training. You don't know what it is. First of all, Adult Basic Education and Training centres operate illegally. Let me say that most of them ...] ... with regard to legislation the Adult Basic Education and Training centres, as things stand now, are only empowered to offer National Qualifications Framework, Level 1, which is far less than Grade 11 or even Grade 10. Grade 7, yes. [Interjections.] Yes. Well, I am Minister of Higher Education and Training, of course! Many of them are actually offering matric programmes and classes. What we are doing is illegal, but government has turned a blind eye on this matter because of the need. What this legislation is doing, is correcting that so that these centres are able to offer programmes up to the equivalent of matric without any problems. That is the objective of this legislation.
The record of Adult Basic Education and Training since 1994 has also not been a good one. Under provinces it has not been a good one. Hence the President's proclamation that these centres should become a national responsibility. That is together with colleges, by the way. The advantage of doing that is that we are better able to align these institutions with the Setas. We are also better able to ensure that programmes offered at these institutions articulate better with universities for those who want to proceed to university after these initial qualifications, which must be recognised by the universities. So that is the logic of the national government. The logic of the national government is not to centralise power.
Hon member Bhanga, you know, I hate - not you - ex-communists, because they are like ex-smokers! Since when have you abandoned the dictatorship of the proletariat, for instance? [Laughter.] Not so long ago we were arguing the same thing with you. Now you are like an ex-smoker who does not even want to smell a cigarette from somewhere, as if you have never smoked before!
In fact, if you look at the establishment of the SA Institute for Vocational and Continuing Education and Training, we are deliberately saying that we need experts to come and advise the Minister. These are experts who would come and design appropriate curricula so that these functions would not just be centralised in the departments. It will enable us to bring in a whole range of other people from outside the department, who will add value to the transformation of our college sector. So, where is the centralisation there?
My worry though, with the DA and Cope, and there is increasingly hardly any difference now, ...
... siyabona impela ukuthi ingathi lo mshado usondele. [Uhleko.] Bab'uLekota nashiya umshado kwenye indawo ngoba nifuna ukuzogana lana. Siyayibona le ndaba. [Uhleko.] Nifuna Ukuzogana nizoba omakoti bala eNtshonalanga Kapa. [Uhleko.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[... because we can see that this coalition is about to take place. [Laughter.] Mr Lekota, you left your party somewhere because you wanted to belong here. We are aware of that. [Laughter.] You want to belong to the Western Cape.]
The problem is that you are reducing this to a petty, party-political issue, at the expense of the interests of the youth and the adults of our country. That is why we are talking about centralisation, but you are not looking at all the advantages. Also, do not just come and talk here - judge us by our track record!
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Bhanga was, in fact, out of order. This Bill is not about administration. It is about transforming and changing the face of Vocational and Continuing Education and Training in our country.
Furthermore, you cannot, by the way, use the issue of the fact that certificates in FET colleges have been delayed. This is not a new problem - it goes back to 2007. However, since this department has been created, we have increased the number of certificates that we have released to graduates from the FET colleges. [Applause.] Even with regard to those certificates that we have not released, we have in the meantime, provided students with proof to show that they have actually completed those particular courses to enable them to access employment.
That is the work of this department, because our interest is in nothing other than empowering the ordinary workers and the poor of this country, not in centralising power in ourselves! So stop playing narrow party- political games and support something that is actually important!
The last thing, hon Deputy Speaker and hon members, is in regard to the Adult Basic Education and Training centres that we are changing into Community Education and Training colleges. What we are doing is this. At the moment the Abet centres are focusing only on a, e, i, o, u, and doing matric. We are saying that these centres must be community colleges so that they can offer short programmes in fencing or knitting or baking - skills that are actually needed by ordinary people in the communities. [Applause.] We are changing them in order to empower them.
Ngoba into eniyijahe kakhulu ukuthi niphikise yonke into eyenziwa nguhulumeni nize ningaboni nezinto eziyizidingo kubantu bakithi. Yingakho niyohlala njalo ningapha kule Ndlu ngoba yithi kuphela esaziyo ukuthi yini esiyenzayo. Sibonga kakhulu kuwo wonke amalungu asekele lo Mthethosivivinywa esiwuphasisa namhlanje. Sibonga kakhulu. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Because what you are very quick to do, is to oppose everything the government is doing and you end up not recognising the needs of our people. That's why you will always remain on that side of this House, because we are the ones who know what we are doing. Thank you very much to all the members who are in support of this Bill being passed today. Thank you very much. [Applause.]]
Debate concluded.