Mr Speaker, hon members, the Eastern Cape accounts for one fifth of the population. Since 1994, no less than nine MECs of education have been appointed. When such a province fails in the sphere of basic education, it does impact on the nation as a whole.
The national department has indeed recognised the gravity of the problem and decided to intervene and send in a task team. This was a necessary step, more so because the provincial department could not provide a plausible turnaround strategy. In 2010 it was the Department of Health that had to receive administrative support. Now it is the turn of the Department of Basic Education to intervene. It does make one wonder what is going on in that province, my motherland.
With all the problems that the Minister has tabled before us, it is clear that the department has been unable to manage education in the province, and many classes are without suitably qualified educators. The fact that learner enrolment has been declining by 2% in the province and that over 125 000 learners were transferring out of the province clearly reveals the public's disenchantment with the management of the provincial department of education. Today, the House needs to be given some clear answers, some of which the Minister has given, but not to the extent of satisfying the House. Minister, is it a capacity issue in the Eastern Cape? Is it a management issue? Is it a skills issue? Is it a teacher issue? Is it a transport issue? Is it a food issue, or is it all of the above? What specific steps will you take to address these specific problems?
Minister, this is no time for slogans. Yesterday I spoke about the "Three Ts": teachers, textbooks and time. Surely, with all that is happening in the province, it will be very difficult to implement the teachers, textbooks and time call?
Cope welcomes the intervention, Minister. However, it will be a wasted exercise if a detailed report on the failures is not commissioned. Such a report will be helpful as it will help other provinces to avoid what is happening in the Eastern Cape.
I need to underscore this, and the Minister has already alluded to it: our children's education is fundamental to our nation; nobody can compromise that. The national government acted too late, and let us hope that it will not be accused of having done too little as well.
The eyes of the nation are now focused on this national intervention and we trust that the situation is permanently turned around. Good luck, Minister. Thank you. [Applause.]