Hon Speaker, the former head of education, Professor Harry Nengwekhulu, once described the Eastern Cape department of education as "rotten to the core". This sentiment was shared by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, this week. "The rot goes deep", she said, referring to what government's intervention has revealed in the Eastern Cape.
The IFP welcomes the frank admission by the Minister that the Eastern Cape education system is on the brink of collapse. It is shocking, however, to learn that after President Zuma had assembled a high-level task team comprising senior Ministers to assist in a turnaround strategy for the province, government has encountered resistance from the education leadership in the Eastern Cape with regard to the implementation of this turnaround strategy.
Minister Motshekga is on record as saying that the leadership has "created a state of paralysis by just not co-operating with the national department". This situation is a national disgrace, to say the least. It is the learners of the Eastern Cape who are bearing the brunt of this stalemate.
The problems in the Eastern Cape, such as the suspension of school transport and the nutrition programme, and the non-delivery of textbooks and stationery as a direct result of corruption and maladministration, directly impact on the education and the future of the children in Eastern Cape. This is the same province where learners ... [Time expired.]