We have extended the workbooks programme, because of the savings that we made from the initial budget, to Grades 7, 8 and 9. By the end of February 2012, we would have distributed 54 million workbooks into the system. [Applause.] The 2012 state of the nation address was spot-on on infrastructure. It is one of the most formidable constraints that is making it harder to deliver on the mandate of providing educational services to the nation's children in an environment that is conducive to learning. Unlike what hon member James said, that we are focusing on the infrastructure because of the case involving 10 schools and therefore allocated R8 billion to eradicate about R235 000, it can't be more of a distortion. I am not sure how the member came to that conclusion.
What led us to conclude that infrastructure is necessary are the facts that we have before us that we also derive from our work. Behind the compromise of the right of children to learn in a favourable atmosphere with adequate classrooms, libraries, laboratories, fencing, electricity, water and sanitation, lies the mammoth task of building the necessary infrastructure and resolving the backlog that we have inherited. Despite the fact that, from the year 2000 to date, we have built 1 206 new schools and provided 36 000 classrooms and provided water to more than 5 214 schools with the support and assistance from the Department of Energy. We have electrified 2 847 schools and have fenced 2 655 schools and provided sanitation to 10 000 schools. But the fact remains that the backlog is still unbearably high.
The availability of infrastructure and other physical resources thus limit access to knowledge, resources and learning. It was in addition to the need for new schools because we have expanded access to education, the very existing schools require infrastructure upgrading as well as constant maintenance. There are major shortfalls because even amongst the very high numbers that we say we have provided water to, there is still a shortfall in terms of water and sanitation and basic furniture like chairs, laboratories and libraries. So it is not a court case in the Transkei which tells us what we need to do, but the information before us.
The infrastructure from the National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy, Nims, shows that there are key gaps in terms of the sufficient infrastructure of space backlogs. For instance, despite the fact that we have already built more than 1 200 schools in the past 10 years, we have almost 16 000 schools that don't have adequate administration blocks. We have more than 14 000 schools that don't have libraries, more than 18 000 that don't have laboratories, 13 000 that don't have computer centres and more than 4 000 schools that do not have sporting facilities. And I know that when we tell the opposition the facts, that we don't have classes, they come back and say you don't have classes. When we say we want to address infrastructure, they will come and say you must address infrastructure. These are the facts we are giving and we are not denying them. [Applause.] We say that we have to do it.
We have an estimated shortfall of 64 000 classrooms, so don't come back to me and remind me that we have a shortfall of 64 000 classrooms. I'm saying that we have a shortfall of 64 000 classrooms, which translates to more than 30 000 schools. Despite the fact that we still have a big number of schools built entirely out of mud, we have conducted - as I say it is not a court case - a study that has demonstrated the enormity of this challenge. However, at the current rate and method of provision, our target can only be achieved in 20 years. That is why we can't wait. I welcome the President's intervention through the Presidential Infrastructure Programme and the inclusion of education as one of the key levers that will help us to address this. At the rate that we are going and with the budgets that we have, we will only be able to address this backlog - it does not matter how hard we work - in 20 years' time, and we can't wait. That is why we know that this programme is going to assist us.
Our aim, which stands to benefit from the country's focus infrastructure development, is to accelerate the delivery of school infrastructure and furniture, eliminate backlogs and bring all schools to basic functionality.
I can see that I am running out of time, Speaker. We can report on the progress that we have made in the accelerated school infrastructure delivery. [Laughter.] Again, we have statistics and I can report on that, for I know that there is a big interest in terms of what we are doing in the Eastern Cape. We are saying the R8 billion for the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative, Asidi, is from the national grant for infrastructure nationally. Though we will prioritise schools in the Eastern Cape, schools in other provinces are also meant to benefit. I have also listed a number of programmes that I think we want them to benefit from.
I really want to appeal to all members in this House, seeing that 2012 is the year for school-governing body elections, and I want to take this opportunity to invite all members and our people to play an active role in making the process a success.
I want to quickly go into some distortions which are making the rounds, I think in this House and all over. As you know, we have maintained a consistent increase in the pass rate and I must underscore that the 70,2% is a true reflection of the performance of the class of 2011. It is an achievement we should all welcome and be proud of as a serious nation truly committed to skills development and economic growth.
Umalusi, which is the one who has authority, not anybody else, said that the 2011 results were fair, valid and credible. The Star newspaper itself said, through its experts, the papers were fair. So, as much as we are concerned with maths and science, we also want to say that we are making progress.
For the interest of hon members and the people I want to clarify the minimum requirement to obtaining a National Senior Certificate. There is a minimum, not mandatory, pass percentage for all learners to perform at a certain level. Sober comparison to most of the certificates, which I think we all have in this country as compared to the ones we are issuing now, the Senior Certificate and the National Senior Certificate, show that our standards have not dropped.
For the new certificate, seven subjects are required to pass, whereas in the past we required six subjects to pass. A candidate in the past could pass with a converted pass of 25%. I hear everybody is screaming about 30%. You will find that half of those who are screaming have 25% as part of their certificates. You used to pass with 25%. We are saying the minimum for pass to be admitted for a Bachelor's Degree, you need to pass in the new certificate a minimum of four subjects at 50%, two subjects at least at 30% and you must pass a home language at 30%. In the certificates which most of us and all the members were screaming about 30%, you needed only four subjects to pass to get a Bachelor's Degree at 40%. That is what we have changed. No, 30% is what we all hold, for it was hiding under symbols and when people obtained an F symbol they did not know that it was falling under the 30%. That F was 30% and half of the people who have certificates have that 30%. [Interjections.]