1. The Learning Cape Festival 2004 is an initiative of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism with the Western Cape Education Department and the Department of Labour. The festival will take place between August the 12th and September the 9th this year. Now in its third year, the festival highlights and profiles the best of education, training and development resources and services in the Western Cape.
2. The Learning Cape Festival 2004 promises to be the biggest and most innovative to date, offering several exciting themes and opportunities for addressing the current challenges and developments in the education and training sphere.
3. Full programme details can be found on the Festival website at Learning Cape Festival (http://www.learningcape.org). Posters will be supplied to schools as well as a newspaper insert with full details of events. The media will be carrying ongoing articles and advertisements for events during the Festival month.
4. The general festival programme of seminars and other activities will run at a number of venues, for example, at the South African Astronomical Observatory and the MTN Science Centre. An Athlone corridor programme is planned, as are activities at EMDC: Metropole South. The sessions during the festival month will be of great interest to educators. Schools are also urged to encourage parents and learners to attend relevant activities so that they are in a better position to make subject and study choices.
5. A Learning Fair - a "marketplace of learning" to run at the Oliver Tambo Centre, Khayelitsha. between 2nd and 4th September - promises to bring excitement, motivation and opportunity to all involved in education, training and development, as well as those involved in growing the economy and building our society at all levels. It is a first of its kind in the province. The Centre is adjacent to the N2 and is very easy to reach.
5.1 Exhibitors will provide access to information on all aspects of education, training and development, showcasing the latest courses, courseware, educational software, learning and teaching support material, learnerships, techniques and methodologies.
5.2 The targeted participation of educators, trainers, skills development practitioners, shop stewards, and HR practitioners and facilitators will ensure exposure to national and international trends for educators and learners from all sectors and levels of learning. The Learning Fair will also provide a strategic platform for networking, partnerships and current debate.
5.3 The Festival focus on exposing and exploring education and training opportunities fits in with the WCED's strategic objectives and dovetails precisely with the current WCED training programme for Life Orientation teachers. Schools which are considering making changes to their selection of subject offerings will also benefit from a visit to the Fair, which would expose them to the full range of learning options and growth areas for the province.
5.4 On Friday, September the 3rd, the MEC for Education, Minister Cameron Dugmore, and Mr Ron Swartz, Superintendent General of Education, will be at the Centre between 14:00 and 16:00 in order to meet and converse informally with educators.
5.5 The organisers have shaped the Saturday programme especially to accommodate teachers, including those from rural areas. Educators are encouraged to make plans to attend this valuable event as well as events which are scheduled for Beaufort West, George, Caledon, Hermanus, Worcester and Vredenburg. These are to be arranged for dates which do not clash with the Learning Fair.
5.6 The exhibitions will be complemented by a series of talks, panels and presentations in the exhibition hall.
5.7 The Fair is modelled on international fairs of this kind and educators are very fortunate to have the chance to benefit from such an experience. All educators are encouraged to set aside some time to visit the fair.
6. The festival month is an opportunity for networking and for examining and highlighting learning needs and opportunities. All WCED institutions are urged to support the festival actively by attending events, by publicising them and by arranging their own corresponding events.


SIGNED: A.M. ATTWELL
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:08:18