Motshekga: I’m not a stubborn minister
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has slammed claims that she is a stubborn minister amid calls to close schools.
Unions and various other organisations have taken the department to task over the reopening of schools as the country heads towards the peak of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Motshekga slammed MPs on Wednesday during the department’s budget vote.
“We have to acknowledge that we have the anti-everything who repeat the same thing all the time and nothing constructive.
“For the record, let me clarify this thing about the stubborn minister. The minister does not take decisions on her own, the sector belongs to members of the community and to the nation.”
Basic Education Angie Motshekga says she's not aware of parents who want schools to be closed. She adds all school governing bodies and other stakeholders are for the reopening of schools, accusing MPs of misrepresenting the public. pic.twitter.com/j08yp67V46
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) July 22, 2020
Motshekga again rejected claims that parents were calling for schools to close.
“Members should be really embarrassed of themselves because I don’t know who they are representing. I thought they would be humble enough to say let’s hear what the parents have to say and not speak for the parents.
“Last week I consulted with all the stakeholders in the sector. I spoke to all governing bodies.
“All governing bodies, without exception, supported the opening of schools so I don’t know which parents you’re speaking for. I’m talking about the legitimate strictures that have the authority to decide on the lives and future of South African children which is the provinces, the parents and all the NGOs working in the sector. Everyone was supporting the opening of schools.”
Teacher unions have also been vocal in calling for schools to close but Motshekga made no mention of the ongoing talks around the future of the academic year.
ALSO READ:
Basic Education budget takes a knock
Motshekga tabled the sector's 2020/21 budget vote on Wednesday. She said the department will shed R2.1 billion in the coming financial year. "Firstly, the initial overall 2020/21 budget allocation for the DBE before adjustments, was just over R25.3 billion; an increase of 3.3% from last year's baseline.