Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

OUR VISION of a learning home for all, will be taken forward boldly with the occupation of 14 new schools from the beginning of next year; the growth of 292 teacher posts in the basket of posts; the introduction of the new National Curriculum Statement (NCS); the completion of the process of installing computer laboratories in all high schools in the Western Cape; and the introduction of about 500 Teacher Assistants.

In the next few weeks, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will showcase and celebrate various milestones, which will reflect the thorough preparations for the 2006 school year.

1.  The Premier's Krismisbox 2005 deliverables

1.1  As part of the Premier’s Krismisbox deliverables, 14 schools and 35 additional classrooms will have been completed by the end of this year. Some schools are already operating, with principals and teachers appointed. [List of schools available on request]

1.2  This weekend the WCED will launch the extention of its Dinaledi Maths, Science and Technology focus schools project. The focus is on improving the number of learners taking Maths, Science and Technology. Fifty certificates will be handed to the participating schools. [Saturday 26 November, 09h00, Kensington High School]

1.3  This will be followed by the launch of special focus schools in Arts and Culture, Business, Commerce and Management, and Engineering and Technology. This is part of the new National Curriculum Statement, to provide our learners with fresh opportunities to develop other aspects of their talents and knowledge. [Monday 28 November, 18h00, CPUT Mowbray campus].

1.4  The WCED is placing Geographic Information System (GIS) software in all FET schools offering Geography before the end of the year. This is using sophisticated technology optimally to teaching Geography in the classroom. [Launch function Wednesday 30 November, 08h00, Zola Secondary School, Khayelitsha]

1.5  Preparing for the World of Work: The WCED will conduct practical workshop sessions for matrics on CV writing, job interview preparation and providing information on employment opportunities that exist in the province. This is to assist and help prepare them to enter the job market with confidence and motivating them to find ways of accessing the formal and informal job market. The workshops will focus on learners in poor communities. At least 1,400 learners, 200 from each EMDC, would gain exposure. These two-day workshops commence tomorrow (24 November) already in all of the EMDCs [MEC Cameron Dugmore will visit one such workshop on Monday 28 November, 14h30, venue to be confirmed]

1.6  Another major first for the WCED will be the completion of at least 17 access ramps for physically challenged learners, to improve access to focus schools for learners with special needs. The ramps are all to be completed before the end of the year. [More details later]

1.7  Learning Tracking landmark: All 2005 learner data will be captured by early December 2005. The WCED will be able to monitor the movement and profile of the almost one million learners, to improve service delivery and the quality of education outcomes. [More details later]

2.  Preparations for school readiness 2006

2.1  EMDCs Open days

On Saturday 26th November 2005, our Education and Management District Centres and various other centres, will be open for all parents who have not yet been able to find a place for their children next year. We urge those parents to visit the centres, and help us in making sure their children are enrolled.

2.2  Post provisioning for special schools

Every year, enrolment increases at some schools and decreases at others, and the WCED allocate posts accordingly. The formula also includes weightings to meet special needs, including those at special schools.

In the past, the department allocated posts to special schools based on a weighting that made allowance for the primary barrier to learning catered for by the school.

To ensure a fair allocation of posts, the WCED decided in principle to allocate posts in 2006 according to the needs of individual learners at a school, rather than the established classification of the school. The WCED has also set aside posts for redress, to meet the needs of disadvantaged learners. Teacher unions agreed to this approach. [See separate statement]

2.3.  Closure of schools

WCED is considering proposals to close eleven schools because of dwindling numbers of learners. From time to time, the WCED has to consider closing schools where they become less viable, because of declining learner numbers.

Unfortunately, we have to allocate teaching posts and other resources to schools based on the number of learners at the school. When numbers decline, we have to allocate fewer teachers and other resources, which in turn affects the quality of education we can offer at a school. [List available on request]

3.  End of Matric Examinations and preparations for end-of-year Matrics 2005 function

The last subject has been written today, which means that the examinations have now been completed. The results will be announced on Thursday 29 December, and as usual, function to honour the top achievers will be held at Leeuwenhof.

Mayors and municipalities have also reacted positively to a request from MEC Dugmore, for them to consider the allocation of a bursary or cash prize for top deserving learners from schools in their respective municipalities.

4.  WCED's assistance to Dennegeur Primary School bus victims

There has been rather misplaced opinionated articles about the WCED’s role in assisting the victims of the Dennegeur Primary School bus accident.

For the record: collectively all of the WCED officials have invested many person hours into Dennegeur, including a counselling team of 15 persons, who have spent numerous hours and days at the school.

WCED officials initiated the special fund, to which generous offers were made. At the request of the school, the WCED set up a task team, and have already started disbursing some funds to victims. Essentially, the Fund had sufficient resources to cover costs incurred on the day of the disaster.

In addition, parents have recourse to the Road Accident Fund, through normal processes of law, to cover medical costs. It was not necessary to divert state funds meant for education for this purpose. The WCED has helped to facilitate attorneys to represent families needing to apply for funding from the RAF, in addition to the support mentioned.

Our Khanya project delivered two laptops to two leaners who are still recovering from home or hospital, to help them keep up with their school work, and for them also to benefit from the recently launched technology project at the school.

For further comment, contact:

Ron Swartz, Head of Department: 0823708293
Gert Witbooi, Media Liaison Officer of the MEC: 0825503938