Chairperson, I rise to speak on higher education. Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers of both Basic and Higher Education and Training, hon chairpersons from both basic and higher education, hon members, distinguished guests, friends in the gallery, ladies and gentlemen, fellow South Africans out there, dumelang, avuxeni, mre [good morning], of is dit "middag" [or is it afternoon]? Allow me to salute all of you once again. Once in the garden of Gethsemane it was said, "Let this cup pass me by." I feel like that right now. However, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate South Africa for having "the hon JZ" as our President - a rare species indeed.
N'wina hinkwenu mi nga ta va na nkateko wa ku va ni xandla eka mburisano lowu, ndza mi losa na ku khensa ku nyikiwa tindleve. Emisaveni hinkwayo, dyondzo hi yona yi endlaka leswaku ku va ni nhluvuko wa ku twisiseka na ku xiximeka. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Thank you to all of you who will have the opportunity to participate in this debate. I salute you and thank you for lending me your ears. Education brings about development which is evident and respected all over the world.]
I am most privileged to share my views so as to contribute to the all-vital higher education, especially on the topic of the transformation of higher education. Let's talk about curriculum reform.
We have agreed in the portfolio committee to unpack this, looking at these aspects: culture, structure and curriculum. Chairperson, we inherited the whole package as the ANC. My colleague, Mr Makhubele, spoke on these aspects around the access to quality education. I want to take it further to speak of the transformation needed to ensure that what we are talking about really happens.
Mi nge ndzi sungula hi swiphiqo leswi vangiwaka hi mindhavuko yo hambanahambana. Swa endleka leswaku machudeni ya rhandza ku hlawula dyondzo yo karhi kambe swi nga koteki hi ku ya hi ndhavuko. A hi nge nhwanyana u lava ku va socha, hi ndhavuko wa tinxaka tin'wana ... (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Let me start with problems which emanate from cultural differences. It does happen that the learners would like to choose a particular career, but fail to do so on the basis of culture. Let us assume a girl aspires to be a soldier, in accordance with the culture of other nations ...]
... a girl cannot choose to be a soldier. We need a paradigm shift in South Africa. Transformation in this regard is necessary because, yes, it might be against certain cultures to do so, but that's when we need to learn from other cultures so as to fit our democratic South Africa into this new era.
Another culture that must be dealt with is that of bunking classes, arriving late and a lack of commitment. Life orientation must be taken seriously, especially at universities and FET colleges. We need to transform the mindset. This will also solve the problem of drug abuse. Chairperson, if students emerge from a drugless society, they must not transform themselves into drug users, because those who are hooked would like to be unhooked for sure.
In short, different cultures must complement each other and not the opposite. Our President put it very clearly in the state of the nation address that "teachers should be in school, in class, on time, teaching, with no neglect of duty and no abuse of pupils". Actually, I should have opened quotes, now I'm closing. [Laughter.]
Transforming into this school of thought needs transformation from all of us. The ANC says: Together we can do more. We will hear this over and over again because, for sure, together we can do more. All structures supporting education must do their jobs - school governing bodies, educators, the opposition, etc. Chairperson ...
... Vatsonga va ri ku tlula ka mhala ku letela n' wana wa le ndzeni. [... the Vatsonga people say that parents' ways are an example to the child and are his real teachings.]
Now we need implementation of this. The Department of Education must follow suit because the ANC made lists - the ANC is the father, so the son must follow. The Department of Education must implement. Chairperson, together we can do more for sure.
I ndlopfu ya hina! [We are all in this together!]
United we stand; divided we fall. Speaking badly of the South African education system while we stay here can be compared to a family member who speaks badly of his other family members. If any structure believes that our education system is not fine, just remember that it emerged from 16 different departments in the same South Africa. Let us all take care of our schools - we must fix windows, etc. The NCS exams last year were the cherry on top.
Chairperson, on curriculum transformation, we need a production school as a matter of urgency in South Africa because those who cannot read and write or get matric need skills so that they can work and participate in the tax system of South Africa.
Congratulations to the Polokwane conference and our manifesto and the state of the nation address. From where I emerge, we say, "Amandla!"
But before I sit, there are perhaps two things that I need to state right here. Hon W G James of the DA spoke of more money to be lent to students. The more you borrow, the poorer you become later in life. [Laughter.] And hon Vukuza-Linda from Cope said something about ethics. I want to remind you that ethics are already included in life skills in our education system as the ANC. And hon A M Mpontshane from the IFP: If the ANC is the engine, you are the spare wheel! Amandla! [Applause.]