Chairperson, one of the central approaches of the department to achieving success in schools that are underperforming is, firstly, to ensure that every learner has a textbook in his or her possession. This is an intervention. In fact, this is our task.
Secondly, the department has to ensure that educators or teachers have the appropriate content knowledge in the areas that they are teaching. Pedagogy is one part, but the content, or substantive issues in relation to the subject that is being taught, is critical.
Thirdly, the department will - in fact, I am very happy to announce that all provinces have bought into the suggestion in terms of our last discussion - utilise this period of the World Cup as an opportunity to ensure that learners get the benefit of the mornings. So, educators and learners will be meeting in schools. Some provinces, like the Western Cape, have a programme from Grade R to 12 and some province have it from Grade 10 to 12, where learners are going to utilise the time for winter vacation to ensure that they have a further opportunity to make up and augment learning that is critical, especially for Grade 12 learners.
So, there is a programme. We cannot be prescriptive. Each province will look at its challenges. I can tell you that Mpumalanga definitely forms part of this particular programme. The two provinces that have been at the forefront in this regard are Gauteng and the Western Cape.
I have been to the Free State, and the Minister has been to Mpumalanga and Limpopo. I can tell you that all the provinces are utilising this opportunity because what we want to create is an opportunity where we can balance the academic performance of the learners with recreation and sport.
So, we are saying that the World Cup is there to celebrate; they must participate in it. But the games take place in the afternoons and in the evenings. How, then, do they spend their mornings productively to ensure that they are not disadvantaged academically ? It seems there is great enthusiasm from the learners, and we will mobilise communities on this particular issue as well. Thank you, Chairperson and Mr Watson.