Hon Chairperson, this time around, I hope the chairperson of the committee on higher education and training - unlike the chairperson of the committee on basic education - will hear me when I say that the IFP supports this Vote.
We acknowledge that the department is making the further education and training, FET, institutions of choice for those who desire to further their studies. However, our argument is that, for this to happen, three things must be done: Firstly, there must be an improvement in the curriculum which is currently being offered at these institutions. Our observation is that there is a mismatch between what is produced by the FETs and what is required by the markets.
Secondly, we argue that there must be a vigorous improvement in the infrastructure, especially in those FETs which were previously owned by black people because, again, there is a disparity. When you go to these campuses, you find that some of them are really haunted by the lack of equipment, and if there is any equipment, it is very old.
Thirdly, there must be an improvement in the qualifications of the lecturers at these institutions. I thank you.