All-round discipline, within an education strategy involving all players, is fundamental to the solution of these problems. In order to address the root causes of the education crisis, we intend to table a Bill in parliament soon, to eradicate discrimination and take the first major steps towards ten years of free quality education. For these changes to be effective, there has to be close co-operation between government and organisations of teachers, students, parents, workers and the business community. The task to make South Africa a learning and learned nation belongs to all of us. The culture of teaching and learning means also that there should be a culture of rights in the schools.
Teachers deserve to be treated with respect by students, society and government.
In turn, they will enjoy such respect if they act responsibly, appreciating the central position that their fraternity occupies in society. With regard to this year in particular, we fully support the initiatives to make up for the time lost during recent national events. We hope that the intensive learning effort will constitute the beginning of a nation-wide and continuing campaign. The opening of doors to the world offers more than just new opportunities for the youth. It is also a great challenge for us to improve our standards to match those of other nations.