Statement by Mr. Cameron Dugmore, Western Cape Education Minister

Later today, I will launch the 100the Maths Focus School of the Khanya Technology in Education Project of the WCED at Masibambane Secondary School.

The Khanya centres for curriculum delivery through ICT, that focus on maths, now make up more that 40% of the total number of Khanya Schools in the Western Cape.

These schools are mostly in historically disadvantaged communities, which means that with our Khanya centres we are effectively delivering education to our communities that need it the most.

I want to congratulate the Khanya Project with the achievement of launching yet another Khanya School, and at the same time reaching the milestone of the 100th Khanya Mathematics Focus School. This is in many respects quite an achievement!

Hendrik Verwoerd's statement in 1953 regarding education, which states: "What is the use of teaching the Bantu Child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice?", reminds us that the performance of our schools in mathematics are an important indicator of our reversal of and liberation from the legacies of apartheid in education.

Today's celebration therefore represents not only a milestone for the Khanya Project, but also for education in general after ten years of democracy in our country.

The Khanya Project assists schools in establishing and maintaining ICT-centres. Schools are provided with facilitators that train and support teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. In the Khanya focus schools, teachers are trained and supported by specialist maths facilitators, specifically in the delivery of the learning area of Mathematics.

All the focus schools are High Schools, which ensures that matric candidates receive the specialist teaching and support they need.

In the Khanya Focus schools a marked increase in the number and quality of passes in both HG and SG in Maths was seen over the past two years.

Education is the platform of our total transformation. It is the way whereby we will eradicate the remnants of Verwoerd's hand in education in South Africa. It is the way whereby our freedom and democracy will become real to every community and every learner.

Inquiries:  Rudi Buys  082 57 6551