Chairperson, the business of education is about doing everything possible to provide a learning environment that nurtures capable and confident young adults ready to make the most of every opportunity. South Africa will sadly, for the most part, continue to be denied quality education. An amount of R17,6 billion has bought us an annual performance plan that allows Minister Motshekga and her officials to tick the boxes alongside unchallenging targets. The only target in the plan that is directly linked to learner outcomes is the matric pass rate and that target is 74%, lower than what was achieved last year.
The plan has no targets for the following: The percentage of schools with the very basic level of infrastructure or having access to a library; the percentage of learners with a textbook for each subject; the number of learners who have received workbooks; the percentage of Grade 3, 6 or 9 learners performing at the required numeracy or literacy levels; the number of Grade 12 learners passing mathematics or physical science; and no targets for the number of Grade 12 learners who become eligible to study towards a Bachelors degree.
The DA cannot be aligned with this sidestepping of the constitutional obligation to properly educate our children.