Our government continues to tolerate failure in Basic Education
2 October 2012
The African National Congress Youth League has noted the report of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of the Department of Basic Education. The AG paints a worrying picture of a Department in disarray, directionless and leaderless.
The Department is embroiled in a quagmire of under spending of more than R1 billion and failure to deliver on the mandate bestowed upon it. All of this takes place at the same time that the Eastern Cape Education Department will be terminating 3000 teacher's jobs for the coming academic year, citing lack of funding. Thousands of learners continue to study in mud schools but only 2% of the school infrastructure backlog is utilised The unemployment rate in South Africa sits at a staggering 25,1%, a destitute and hopeless situation, however Minister Motshekga and her team fail to fill of funded posts in 70% of the schools.
Government has committed itself to a key output in this term to improve of the quality of learning and teaching. The Department of Basic Education fails to spend more than R90million in Programme 2, the programme responsible for "increasing access to high quality learning materials".
It is clear that the Department does not have capacity to spend more than R40million in the programme meant to "promote quality teaching and institutional performance through the effective supply, delivery and utilization of human resources".
The ANC Youth League, with a historical and critical task to champion the interests of youth within the African National Congress, calls upon the African National Congress to act and act decisively in the best interest of our education system and the future of this country. Repeatedly, Minister Motshekga has provided reason for the ANC to accept that she has failed to deliver on her mandate however she continues to be protected for reasons unknown to us. Minister Motshekga should allow her conscience to eventually speak to her and do the noble and honourable thing; step down from a position that is obviously too overwhelming for her.
Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, October 2 2012
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