Mr Speaker, after looking at the results, to us as the ANC the Annual National Assessments initiative signals great vision, challenging trends and positive lessons towards a quality basic education system that responds to the developmental needs of our country.
We are pleased to note that the political and administrative leadership of the national department demonstrates a great vision for the department. From Action Plan to 2014: Towards the Realisation of Schooling 2025, to Outcome 1 in the delivery agreement of the Minister, we see a great build- up of concerted effort to take our education system to another, progressive level.
We therefore welcome the initiative by the department to administer the ANA to our Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners. We are mindful of the magnitude of the task, catering for some 6 million learners. We believe what the hon Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga, committed herself to, with the understanding that the effort of improving performance should be based on a proper understanding of what is wrong in the system. Therefore, the 2011 ANA results for us as the ANC should serve as a pointer to where the problem is; as an indicator of the direction we should take; and as a gauge of the interventions we should bring into the system. Good or bad, these results are benchmarks that should rekindle the great vision the department has. We, the ANC, congratulate the Minister and her department on this initiative.
Improving on subjects - literacy and numeracy - has a positive impact on the endeavours of realigning the country's Human Resources Development Strategy, and is commendable. We, the ANC, thank the department and wish them well in the huge task of bringing responsive solutions to these challenges. I thank you.