The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, says cooperation across political spectrum is vital for a comprehensive scholar transport policy.
“This is one area where all stakeholders have to be tolerant and work together, but also avoid scoring points on political affiliation. The future of those learners who struggle to access education should be the sole motivating driver when the policy content is finalised,” Ms Gina said.
She said the policy has to be the most comprehensive such that, apart from being a model policy, there is no confusion on criteria and other determining factors at to who are the beneficiaries.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) came to brief the Committee on the update on the scholar transport policy as envisaged collectively with the Department of Transport (DoT). The DBE indicated that five provinces have already moved the scholar transport function to provincial departments of transport and roads.
Ms Gina said as to which department performed the function is a prerogative of a province, and that she concurred with the DBE that not all challenges relating to the function of transporting learners will be contained in the policy.
“Challenges in one province will not necessarily be challenges in another – given the different levels of development in the country, the need and affordability. Stakeholders in basic education should all contribute positively and ensure that their input reflects reality on the ground,” she said.
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