Sekela-Somlomo, ngenxa yokunqongophala kwexesha, ndivumele ukuba ndithi kuzo zonke izinxiba-mxhaka ezikhoyo apha, ngqanga nentsiba zayo! [Deputy Speaker, because of time constraints, allow me just to say I greet all the distinguished guests!]
Hon Speaker, Deputy Speaker, that this fiscal policy framework prioritises education with a 21% noninterest allocation testifies to our commitment to sustaining long-term growth, increasing employment and reducing inequality. Our overarching vision for education remains "people's education for people's power".
We stand by what we committed ourselves to in the RDP document in 1994, namely to develop an integrated system of education and training that provides equal opportunities to all, irrespective of race, colour, sex, class, language, age, religion and geographic location. That system of education must address the development of knowledge and skills that can be used to produce high-quality goods and services in a way that enables us to develop our cultures, society and economy.
We are still faced with the challenges of backlogs in school infrastructure, low levels of achievement in literacy, mathematics and science, an insufficient number of qualified teachers, and low enrolment and high failure rates in universities and further education and training colleges.
We welcome the R8,2 billion to address backlogs in school infrastructure through the school infrastructure backlog indirect grant. This amount was set aside to fund the replacement of the 3 627 identified informal and unsafe school structures, and to contribute to the provision of water, sanitation and electricity at all schools.
At our 52nd national conference, we committed ourselves to building new schools to replace mud schools and to ensuring that all schools have access to basic infrastructure such as water and electricity by 2014. It is our intention that no child should have to learn in a mud school or under a tree. The right to education does not only include the right to be taught, but the right to be taught under conditions conducive to effective learning. The unitary nature of the South African state should evince itself in the same education experience for all learners irrespective of the geographic location of their schools.
Hon Speaker, you shall recall that in his state of the nation address, His Excellency the President said:
The focus in basic education this year is "triple T": teachers, textbooks and time. We will continue investing in teacher training, especially in mathematics and science.
The R2 billion allocation for Funza Lushaka bursaries will therefore ensure skills upgrading to equip teachers to be more effective and efficient in performing their duties. This amount is meant to increase the number of prospective teachers receiving bursaries in subjects such as mathematics and science.
Society at large was concerned about declining matriculation results. However, the class of 2010, with its 67,8% pass rate, has been a harbinger of quality success. At 34%, Gauteng registered the highest number of learners who achieved admission to a bachelor's degree, which is a four percent increase from 2008. However, the Western Cape experienced a decline of 2% from 2008 in this category.
What is of concern, though, is a fallacy that a minority of commentators have sought to present to the nation as fact. We want to indicate to all South Africans, and to the class of 2010 in particular, that their achievement is qualitative and of a regular standard. The "slippery slope" argument advanced by certain self-appointed leaders of thought is based on the following: More means less or more means worse. This argument assumes that quality cannot rise with quantity. The dominant view is that quality demonstrates itself in less output and therefore, according to this way of thinking, there is an inherent inverse proportionality between pass rate and quality outcomes.
The January 8 Statement of the ANC national executive committee states:
In line with the vision of the Freedom Charter, and the resolution of our 52nd national conference, we are committed to progressively introducing free education up to undergraduate level.
With effect from this year, 2011, students who are registered at a public university in their final year of study and who qualify for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme will receive a loan equivalent to the full cost of study, which is the full fee and necessary living expenses.
If these students graduate at the end of the year, the loan for the final year will be converted to a full bursary.
To strengthen skills development, R1,4 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period will be added to the FET college grant. This is set to increase FET enrolment from about 198 000 in 2010 to 315 000 in 2011. We have to keep expanding the FET sector and make it more visible as it also has a good number of short study programmes and offers opportunities for the 200 000 national curriculum holders who do not have a bachelor's degree pass.
We seek to build a developmental state, premised on people-centred and people-orientated change, and sustained development based on a high growth rate, the restructuring of the economy and socioeconomic inclusion. That is why we deliberately made the choice to follow a New Growth Path that is driven by job creation and skills development.
In this regard, we treat skills development not only as the domain of tertiary education institutions, but as a mandate also of workplaces. Our advantage is that we are a population numerically dominated by young people. However, the irony is that the majority of these energetic young people are unemployed. In fact, more than 28 million people in the age group 18 to 24 are not employed, not in education, and not severely disabled.
We will therefore monitor employers in the implementation of their undertaking to train artisans and technicians in the workplace. In this regard, we also support the restructuring of the sector education and training authority, Seta, landscape. We agreed that there should be a closer relationship between FET colleges, universities of technology and workplaces.
We need to ensure improved access to quality learning programmes, the increased relevance of skills development interventions and the building of strong partnerships between stakeholders and social partners. Our investment in education and training and skills development should be focused on achieving a skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive economic growth path and social development.
We need to integrate workplace training with theoretical learning, improve skill levels and address the poor work readiness of many young people leaving formal education institutions and entering the labour market for the very first time. We also have to address the continuing skills shortage in the artisanal, technical and professional fields as well as ensure that rural development receives the necessary attention and priority.
As the ANC we therefore welcome the R300 million initial allocation for establishing new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. Building these universities will not only ensure that the people of those provinces do not travel to other provinces to acquire a university education, but it also fits into the greater strategy of our New Growth Path. Our role as a country is gaining momentum globally and within the African continent in particular. As a member of the Brics grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and of SADC, we are charged with protecting not only our national interest but that of Africa in general. We are determined to build a knowledge-based economy - our country has to produce intellectuals and skills not only for itself but also for Africa. We have in the past been on the cutting edge of scientific innovations. We built the wonderful Sumbandila satellite centre. We have manufactured our first electric car and we continue to embark on ground-breaking research on health-related and socioeconomic matters. We will export not only skills but knowledge too.
In conclusion, we are a young democracy emerging from the ashes of a brutalising past, but we are gaining strength each day. As each day dawns, we advance to a new order in which race, sex, religion, culture or creed shall not determine a newborn child's destiny and, of course, the background must not be allowed to determine anyone's destiny. As we wait for that day of economic emancipation that will give meaning to our current political freedom, we work to build a united and cohesive society.
We agree with the Minister of Finance that giving every South African the dignity of a job, the security of an income, the prospect of training, the support to launch new businesses, the confidence to be an entrepreneur and the sheer passion and optimism to break the shackles of unemployment is the best legacy this generation can leave and we want to commend you, treasurer of our country. We are very proud of you. The kind of leadership that you provide in this department is one that the ANC will remain proud of. I thank you.