The UDM is appalled by reports that the Eastern Cape Premier found no pupils at a school she had paid a surprise visit to. The parents blamed the department, the teachers blamed the parents and no-one took responsibility.

The UDM believes that the question of education is a major issue for South Africans. There must be a return to basics: teachers must teach; students must study.

It is paramount that discipline is returned to the classroom and, in order to monitor the situation, school inspectors must be re-introduced immediately. This incident illustrates why we need a system where inspectors regularly visit schools to monitor discipline. Such a system would also ensure that any problems on the ground would be timeously identified and addressed.

Stop the rot, bring back school inspectors.