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The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education yesterday evening concluded a robust, engaging and fruitful three-day induction workshop with the education sector.
 
Committee Chairperson Ms Joy Maimela said the purpose of the workshop was to provide members with a comprehensive overview of the sector, including the structure of the Department of Basic Education (DBE), their vision and strategic goals.
 
The workshop also included a detailed explanation of the functions of the DBE and the distinct and concurrent roles of provincial education departments and education district offices.
 
“The committee therefore requested input from all provincial education departments. This was for Members to understand the space that they will have to do oversight in,” Ms Maimela explained.
 
Stakeholders participating in the programme included the South African Human Rights Commission, qualifications verifications body Umalusi, and the departments of Transport (DOT), Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).
 
Ms Maimela said the theme of challenges with scholar transport, lack of infrastructure maintenance and inadequate sanitation, such as pit latrines, kept arising over the three days. “Although it was intended to be an introduction to the sector, the committee also had probing questions on areas of concern and wanted comprehensive plans on turning it around,” she said.
 
The DOT agreed that the process of procurement for scholar transport is problematic. The committee heard that someone would, for example, tender with a Mercedez Benz vehicle but later transport learners with a sub-standard transport.
 
“It is clear the committee is especially passionate about these matters. How do we explain to a mother that your child was picked up for school and never made it home. Mothers are frustrated because they are burying their children,” Ms Maimela noted.
 
She said the DOT presentation did not put the committee’s mind at ease. “We are responsible for 12.7 million learners, and we cannot play with that. We requested the department to return with a comprehensive plan on how to address the scourge of deaths of our learners on the road. We have been losing far too many learners due to vehicle accidents,” she said.
 
The committee also had a stern message for the DWS. The committee heard there were about 200 pit latrines still in schools, but funding should still be allocated for this. “How to we explain to a mother, your child will not come home because she fell in a pit latrine. We want this eradicated. This is non-negotiable. This must be a priority,” Ms Maimela stated.
 
The committee further told the DPWI to act against implementing agents who are not fulfilling their contracts nor completing projects on time. “You are responsible for infrastructure maintenance at our schools. You need to ensure that the norms and standards are in place and adhered to,” Ms Maimela said.
 
Ms Maimela said the workshop was an overall success, as the committee wanted to understand the basic education sector better and to be empowered. “So, when we start holding the executive to account and do our oversight work, we do it from an informed position. South Africans want universal quality education, but clearly it cannot just be the responsibility of one department,” Ms Maimela concluded.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Joy Maimela