Statement by Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has opened special Registration Centres to assist learners still looking for places in schools in the greater Cape Town metropolitan area.

The district offices of the department have opened the centres in areas experiencing rapid population growth and pressure on available accommodation in schools.

These include Khayelitsha; Kuils River, Blue Downs and surrounding areas; Philippi and adjacent areas; and the Somerset West/Strand/Lwandle area.

The WCED’s Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) are working with schools and local community organisations to assist learners and to make the best possible use of available resources.

We are well aware of the problems many of our schools are experiencing in trying to accommodate learners in these areas. Our EMDCs are well placed to make alternative arrangements.

Unfortunately, in previous years, some people have sought to take advantage of the shortage of accommodation in the Western Cape and elsewhere, by opening informal schools that do not necessarily serve the best interests of learners.

We do not want this to happen again. We appeal to parents and learners to visit the Registration Centres so that we can make the best possible arrangements for learners still without schools.

The WCED’s Metropole East and South EMDCs have established Registration Centres at the following venues:

• Khayelitsha: Site B Public Library.
• Kuils River, Blue Downs and surrounding areas: Metropole East EMDC, Block C, Western Cape Education College, Nooiensfontein Road, Kuils River.
• Philippi and surrounding areas: Metropole South EMDC, Lentegeur Hospital, A Z Berman Drive, Mitchell’s Plain.