It's pop quiz time…again. Yip, every so often The Point feels the need to educate. This may have something to do with a perceived deficit in the NEQ (National Education Quotient), but I suspect it actually has more to do with the fact that I'm a bit of a know-it-all.

Besides which, my pop quizzes are funny.

No really, they are. And you don't even have to get the answer right — further proof that the NEQ is of little consequence to me. Which, in turn, is further proof of the fact that I really and truly am behind our government… er… 100 percent.

Q: EDUCATION IS

And because my generosity knows no bounds… a few clues.

Our new Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga unveiled the new education budget during the week. I would like to attribute the decisions made to poor numeracy skills.

"Certain areas have received a smaller allocation like your… literacy programmes. We are confident that despite the fact that we have had cuts, we will through mobilising other resources around literacy programmes… be able to reach our targets."

If you have managed to read this far… congratulations! You clearly made it through the education system while learning how to read was still regarded as one of the fundamental building blocks of a solid education.

If you can't read this (and, yes, I understand the futility of such a statement), here's why:

"To understand our situation today, we have to look at the way education and training were manipulated and deformed under apartheid, in its drive to impoverish and disempower our people," said Zwelinzima Vavi.

Ah… it would seem that in 15 years of democracy, not much has changed.

Q: DOCTORS ARE

Hint: the correct answer is (D). I lied, there are correct answers.

"If the death of Gauteng accident victim Mavis Ncube, who died after being turned away by two state hospitals, is anything to go by, the striking doctors have lost the public's trust and respect. They have neglected carrying out their noble duty," said ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte, who almost certainly does not visit state hospitals when she falls ill.

Noble duty. Yip, what doctors do on a daily basis is noble, but it is not a duty — it is a job.

"We have no choice, against those who are determined to put the lives of vulnerable patients at risk, but to issue court interdicts and other legal instruments so that these professionals are stopped from destroying the health system further," said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

Here's an outrageous suggestion: how about seriously considering their grievances? Firing the few doctors who have chosen to stay in the state system is hardly going to help all those vulnerable patients.

Despite the fact that the health system is threatening collapse, Motsoaledi is still confident about plans for the NHI.

"NHI is a system of universal health coverage where every citizen is covered by health care insurance, rich or poor."

Motsoaledi seems to be overlooking the fact that a health care system requires doctors.

Q: THE MEDIA IS

According to Jessie Duarte (yes, she of the private health care): "The wonderful thing about the country, unlike the media, is that we do have freedom of speech".

Erm… yet another example of why literacy is important.

According to President JZ: "The media is one institution that is extremely sensitive to criticism, perhaps because practitioners spend their lives criticising other people."

Says the guy who has sued most media houses in South Africa.

Dis hoe dit is met Steve: "I speak to Joost weekly and the stress that he must be going through is just unbearable. It is time to put an end to these predatory paparazzi who think they have learnt nothing from Lady Di."

Okay, okay… I'll admit it. I spend my days camped on Joost's lawn just waiting to catch a glimpse of the superstar. I see Steve there quite often. Weekly, in fact.

Q: MALEMA MOMENTS ARE

"At the moment, when the imperialist forces are accepting the failures of capitalism, we should ask whether the time has not arrived for the government to make sure that the state owns the mines and other means of production as called for in the Freedom Charter," said the verbose youth league leader.

I have three words for the young Julius: Eskom, SAA and SABC.

Is The Point getting a little blunt? Share your thoughts below…

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