Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Minister of Education.

Learners who registered at the New Eisleben informal school in Nyanga/Crossroads earlier this year are now moving to other schools and centres in the Southern Metropole education district to continue their schooling.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) arranged the places at the alternative sites following extensive consultations with these institutions and the parents of the learners concerned.

The department is currently employing contract teachers to teach the additional learners at these learning sites, at four schools and three Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) centres.

Qualified teachers can apply for the posts at the Southern Metropole Education Management and Development Centre at the Lentegeur Hospital, A Z Berman Drive, Lentegeur, in Mitchell's Plain.

The deadline for applications is 16h00 on Wednesday (8 May 2002). Teachers must provide their CVs and the subjects they are qualified to teach, and identify the learning sites they would like to teach at.

The learners involved previously crowded into eight rooms in municipal buildings in New Eisleben Road, on the border of Nyanga and Crossroads. The premises are inadequate, unsafe, and do not have toilet facilities.

Many of the learners and teachers then moved into six classrooms at the nearby Mvula Primary School, which were still insufficient to accommodate the numbers involved.

Learners in Grades eight to 10 from New Eisleben now being accommodated at other schools, namely Intsebenziswano in Phillippi, Mvula in Nyanga, and Nobantu and Songeze in Gugulethu.

Those in Grades 11-12 are being accommodated in three ABET centres, Mzamomhle in Phillippi, and Mkangeli and Sikelela in Crossroads.

The WCED started registering learners from New Eisleben for the alternative schools and centres in mid-April.

We will welcome applications from all teachers with suitable qualifications and experience. They will start work on Monday (13 May 2002) in contract positions, until such time as we advertise additional permanent posts for these schools and centres.

On behalf of the WCED, I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have helped to resolve this complex issue. Our primary challenge now will be to ensure that these learners complete the curriculum for the year with the least possible disruption.