Speaking Notes: Honourable KD Kgabo
Friday, 28 February 2025
Honourable Chairperson, Honourable Members,
Today I rise on behalf of the African National Congress the movement entrusted by generations of South Africans to drive the transformation and advance the interests of the people- to engage in this crucial debate that speaks directly to the heart of our developmental agenda. For the ANC, education is not only a policy area; it is our apex priority and the foundation upon which a capable, inclusive, and prosperous nation must be built. Every reform we consider in this House must therefore reflect our responsibility to dismantle the structural inequalities inherited from apartheid and to open doors of opportunity for every learner in South Africa envisaged in the Freedom Charter.
The democratic state carries a duty to ensure that every child, regardless of geography or class, gains access to the skills, knowledge and support required to participate meaningfully in society and the economy. That is why today’s debate is not merely about pass marks, it is about the future of our youth, the strength of our labour market, and the direction of our country’s development trajectory.
I am reminded of the timeless words of Anton Lembede, who said: “A man may gain the highest university degrees and diplomas, but he is not better than a well-trained and industrious farmer or carpenter. A leader in agriculture, carpentry, etc., is just as good as a leader in politics, science, education, and the arts.” These words reflect the ANC’s long-standing belief that all forms of work, all forms of skill, and all pathways to success deserve dignity and recognition. They remind us that our education system must not only prepare learners for university, but also equip them with practical skills, vocational expertise, and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to our economy and society.
Honourable Members, the conversation about minimum pass requirements must never be isolated from the broader imperative of diversifying educational pathways. This is in line with ANC policy resolutions and our Manifesto commitments to strengthening multiple pathways that cater to varied learner abilities and economic needs. The three-stream model reflects the ANC’s belief in inclusive development and in the necessity of producing a workforce capable of supporting industrial expansion, technological advancement, and economic restructuring.
The ANC government, through DHET and DBE, continues to drive alignment between schooling and the PSET ecosystem. This includes curriculum modernisation, workplace-based learning, rationalisation of TVET colleges, and expanded entrepreneurship development, and the phasing out of outdated or underperforming programmes. By removing programmes that no longer serve learners or the labour market, we ensure that resources are focused on high-impact, relevant training that equips young people with skills demanded by a modern, technology-driven economy.
Collaboration between department of Basic Education and Higher Education, SETAs, industries, and higher education institutions remains central to this work. Such cooperation ensures curriculum relevance, improves career guidance, enhances learner readiness, and bridges the persistent skills mismatch that undermines economic growth. At the same time, reforms align with 4IR demands and sectoral needs, preparing learners for a rapidly changing labour market.
Honourable Members, it is important to reiterate that TVET colleges and CET institutions are not secondary options. They are engines of industrial capability and social mobility, uniquely positioned to support the skills required for a transforming economy. On Tuesday, Minister Manamela opened the Northlink College Bellville Boilermaker Campus here in CapeTown, a concrete demonstration of our commitment to strengthening artisanal training. These skills are essential to energy security, infrastructure development, manufacturing, and shipping, all primary pillars of economic reconstruction.
Let us also be clear: a bachelor’s pass does not guarantee university admission. Universities assess Admission Point Score (APS), programme requirements and capacity constraints. Differentiated NSC passes must therefore be understood as reflecting different competencies for different pathways all of which are legitimate and necessary in a diversified economy.
Strengthening minimum pass requirements must go hand in hand with strengthening quality and readiness for PSET. This includes addressing capacity constraints, upgrading infrastructure, building digital skills, and aligning curricula with 4IR competencies and labour market demands core priorities of both the NDR and ANC Manifesto. We commend ongoing initiatives such as TVET college infrastructure upgrades, workplace-based learning projects, and targeted interventions to expand access to higher education and vocational training, all of which prepare learners for meaningful participation in the economy.
Career guidance and mentorship programmes must be expanded urgently. Too many learners complete Grade 12 without clarity on opportunities or pathways. That is why the ANC emphasises the expansion of structured advisory services, workplace exposure and transitional support.
Honourable Chairperson, the ANC remains firm that reforms in the NSC must advance equity, quality, transformation, and developmental relevance. These principles are not symbolic they are the engine room of our national progress.
As I conclude, Honourable Members, let us be guided by the conviction that has shaped the ANC for over a century: that the future of our nation depends on the opportunities we create for its youth. Strengthening the NSC, diversifying pathways, aligning curricula with economic demands, and ensuring meaningful transitions into PSET and work are not optional reforms they are obligations placed upon us by history, by our people, and by the Freedom Charter’s timeless vision.
The ANC therefore calls for oversight that is rigorous, transformative and boldly future-focused oversight that ensures our education system becomes an instrument of empowerment, not exclusion; of growth, not stagnation; of hope, not despair. Let us move forward with unity, purpose and the clear understanding that building a skilled and capable generation is central to building the South Africa envisaged in the National Democratic Revolution.
I thank you.