Chair, in closing the debate, I again want to thank my colleagues who took time off from their provincial duties to join us here. Ntate Masome and Ntate Qwaso, thank you very much. I also wish to thank the representatives from provinces for joining us in this debate. I wish to thank the chairperson of the committee for the preparations and the members of the standing committee and all the colleagues and hon members who participated in the debate.
I think the member of the DA rightfully raises questions about quality and I think if you reread our theme and internalise it, you will realise that the issue of quality is central to our debate. Our position in this debate is that, as much as we think we have achieved many things, we are still confronted with the challenge of making sure that our quality matches up with our quantity. So, I think that we are in agreement on that issue, so there is no debate about it.
I fully agree with the member of the ANC who mentioned the National School Nutrition Programme. Indeed, the school nutrition programme should not just be a feeding scheme; it should also help us to enhance the nutritional status of our children and promote nutritional programmes in our communities. It should be part of a healthy living programme, so that our children are also encouraged and taught through this programme to embrace healthy lifestyles.
A member of the ANC raised an issue concerning adult basic education. Again, I fully agree with the comrade. We have a very successful programme in the national department called Kha Ri Gude. It should, however, also develop working ties with NGOs and with business and provincial initiatives, so that we have a comprehensive literacy programme - not a literacy programme that runs parallel to other literacy programmes. This time we will sort it out, especially in KZN, to make sure that this programme works very closely with other initiatives so that it can spread out and expand.
I don't intend responding to everything because, as I said yesterday in my debate in the House, education finds itself in a very fortunate situation in that it is able to rise above political and ideological divides. We find that, in most instances, the issues raised by members are issues we agreed on. Perhaps members had to debate because that is part of what they are supposed to do. Basically we are in agreement. Most of the things that have been raised are contained in our strategic plan, and we invite members to study that strategic plan. They will discover that there is indeed much agreement between us.
I can also tell hon Plaatjie of Cope that, at the Congress of the People, convened by the ANC in 1956, the vision of education for all was there. That vision continues to lead all people who believe in the Congress vision. So, all members of Cope are under the leadership of the ANC, because only the ANC can lead the Congress of the People. Any other congress not led by the ANC cannot be the Congress of the People. [Interjections.] My point is that the view and vision are contained in our book. Follow it, Baba, as you want to follow the Congress of the People, because the Congress of the People can only be led by the ANC.
Concerning the issue raised by hon Magadla, we have agreed that the infrastructure is underresourced. We have also referred to the matter. If you want a teacher in class, on time, teaching, there has to be support mechanisms that enable that educator to be in class, teaching. We agree that infrastructure - especially in rural and poor areas - continues to be a challenge for us. Again, we are committed to doing something about it.
What I am quite pleased about is the meetings that we had with provincial ministers of education. I do believe that all of us, whether in government as MECs or as players in education, can confront most of the challenges together. Working together we will succeed. From most of the points that were raised by members you would have gathered that there is coherence between what we are doing and what is being done in provinces. Therefore, I think we will work together as a team.
On the issue of the Western Cape, I think you are quite correct to say that that is an old budget. But our reports are saying that the education department with the highest performance in the country is the Western Cape. In the past five years, under the leadership of the ANC, the province did very well. So, you are quite bright. If you have 3 million you possibly have the mandate that enables you to change things, but I think you should be careful not to discard things that work. The WCED is one of the best- performing departments in the country. So, you are inheriting a good infrastructure. Don't hesitate; grab it and build on it, but don't doubt that you have a good product in hand.
I also want to say I think Baba uZulu raised fundamental issues and agree with him. The department is currently planning to bring amendments to our schools Act to the House. These amendments should begin to address some of the issues, like nepotism in job interviews. We are also saying that it won't be a one-size-fits-all solution.
There are capable governing bodies, so we should find a balance. We need to make sure that while we support schools which are not capable of undertaking certain activities, we don't deny those that are the chance to do so. That is what we are trying to look at and we will be suggesting some amendments.
I also agree with you, Baba uZulu, on the issue of the national school fund. I am very aware that my colleague hon Nzimande is looking at that, because some of the children who we send to institutions of higher learning not only need tuition books and accommodation, but also need a living allowance. They need money for socks; they need money for a few things that sustain them at school. So, hon Nzimande is looking at that. There is a review of the fund to make sure that we can accommodate children who come from the poorest of families. So, again, there won't be a one-size-fits-all solution.
I agree with the ID on quite a number of things. We are saying that we should support our strategic plan, but also agree that poor children are catered for under Social Development. There is no point in giving a parent R700 and then charging that parent R700 for fees. We might as well keep the R700. So, we won't give families R700 and then ask children to bring R700 for the fees, because what is the point of giving them the money and immediately taking it back from them?
So, all the other issues are being catered for. Poor children are catered for under the child support grant. Therefore, we expect that some of the needs that you are raising will be accommodated there. So, we will continue to fund schools and not children, because all the things we are providing schools with are things that we know they need. So, we don't want to go the long way of giving and then taking it back from them. We will continue to do it that way.
Let me conclude by thanking members. I think we have taken note. Most of the points that I have not responded to concern issues on which we are in agreement. We appreciate some of the points that comrades and members have raised. We will integrate them into our thinking and planning and we will definitely only benefit from the comments or criticisms that are being levelled against us, and build from there.
In closing, I again want to thank my colleagues. I can assure the NCOP that, together with the provinces, we are going to work very well. When you visit provinces you will find a coherent programme which will be a partnership between us - the national department - and provinces.
We are developing clear plans which really incorporate provincial work into national work so that we have one seamless system of education which is not fragmented by the fact that we have a national department and provincial departments. We will share these plans with members in due course. We are striving at all costs to make sure that we have only one system of education, and that that system of education is not fragmented by the fact that there are different provinces. So, I want to thank everyone for participating in the debate. It was quite useful. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.