DA North West tables motion to transfer scholar transport function to Department of Education

Issued by CJ Steyl – DA North West Provincial Spokesperson: Education
30 Jul 2024 in Press Statements

Note to Editors: Please find below an extract of the speech delivered by CJ Steyl MPL during the Budget Vote Debate on Education in the North West Legislature today.

Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by CJ Steyl MPL.

Honorable Speaker,

There is a wind of change blowing through the education sector. It is encouraging.

During committee deliberations, Education MEC Viola Motsumi, indicated that her mission is to deliver quality basic education.

We are confident that if she wants to realise that mission, she will have the support of the National Minister of Education, the DA’s Siviwe Gwarube.

Although MEC Motsumi’s commitment towards educating the children of the North West is commendable, this department has many problems.

The safety and security of both learners and teachers must be ensured. It is encouraging that high perimeter fencing is being brought to vulnerable schools.

Dilapidated classrooms further endanger both teachers and learners.

Children are increasingly falling victim to cybercrime and bullying, especially to revenge or extortion porn and exposure to trafficking.

We need to look at initiatives that establish awareness and support to leaners who fall victim to these crimes.

Scholar transport continues to endanger the lives of learners in unroadworthy vehicles.

To this end, we have tabled a motion that this House debate at its next sitting the transferral of the scholar transport function to the Department of Education from the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.

We hope that this initiative will enjoy the support across party lines, like the sentiment shared amongst members of the Portfolio Committee.

This department must eradicate asbestos schools.

Just last week, we were informed that the Sefatlhane Primary School in Zeerust, has been closed by the Department of Labour because of exposure to asbestos classrooms.

This school is part of the school nutrition programme and Grades R, 6 and 7 are at home, their right to education denied.

MEC Motsumi, we request your urgent intervention to bring temporary classrooms so that these learners can resume their education.

We commend the department’s commitment to action the South African Human Rights Commission’s recommendations to address old, dilapidated infrastructure in schools.

But we want to see the department move with greater speed.

It is a sad indictment that the bulk of no-fee schools lack the adequate infrastructure, especially in laboratories and investment in the arts and sport sciences.

Established schools in urban areas have lush green gardens, committed principals, teachers and functional School Governing Bodies, where the focus is on academic excellence, but also, investment towards unlocking sporting and artistic talent.

Let’s transform all no-fee schools in North West into centres of excellence like we see in urban areas.

Because studies show that children who attend schools where there is a strong academic focus, specifically in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, with complimentary sports and arts programmes perform better, and grow into well rounded adult individuals.

We need committed principals and teachers, who are in class on time, every school day, who have expert command of their subject matter.

We need to reinstate performance management agreements with every principal. Who in turn must observe in-class assessment of teachers, free from any manipulation, towards effective performance management of teachers.

We know that SADTU is opposed to these measures, but if we want to prioritise education, we must get SADTU to support a scientific performance assessment programme.

Schools used to be the centre of communities.

Principals and teachers were community leaders. They were respected for their capabilities, and they were trusted with developing young minds into well-rounded, capable, and educated individuals.

We need to bring that respect and admiration back.

Many parents are out of home either working or looking for a job.

This means that many children arrive to homes where they are not under adult supervision.

In addition, many parents are unable to support their children’s academic development due to the challenges of life.

We would like to see after-school care initiatives where children are supported to complete homework, where they can unlock and develop their sporting and artistic talents in safe and secure environments.

We know that money is a problem.

But when we get the basics right and our children can count, read and write with comprehension, we can begin to unlock the latent potential in this generation to fully participate in a future knowledge-based economy.

We support the R21 billion budget for the Department of Education.