Chairperson, it has been suggested that all our secondary schools be converted to schools with a technical bias. Of the IT specialists in America, 74% come from India. The KwaZulu-Natal government has an arrangement with India to train 10 000 youths in the field of IT.
India has made tremendous strides since the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. They gave science and technology the highest priority. What we need in South Africa is a knowledge commission. If you look at countries that have advanced technologically and scientifically, those are the countries that are most progressive in the world. It is high time that South Africa departs from the normal technikons and universities and establish specialised science and technology institutions in every province.
In 1994 South Africa was 20 years behind the West because during apartheid IT institutions in this country were flooded with whites. What South Africa must aim for is a wealth of middle class professionals. We are very glad that the hon President has separated the education Ministry, but science and technology must commence from the beginning. We must study what China and India does. China, for example, selects learners at the early stage of Grade 4. If we are to succeed, we have to aim high to create this professional class, then South Africa will be amongst the world leaders.
The former US President George Bush said that the West has been shaken up because China and India have not only planned, but they achieved advancement in science and technology. We must also decide today the date when South Africa's own rocket will reach the moon. The MF will support the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]