Oval North Secondary School, Mitchell’s Plain, has opened its doors as one of the first focus schools specialising in Engineering and Technology in the Western Cape.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is establishing 28 Focus Schools over the next three years to provide opportunities for learning for learners with special interests and aptitudes in disadvantaged communities.

The focus schools are specialising in

• Arts and Culture;
• Business, Commerce and Management; and
• Engineering and Technology.

The WCED has allocated R49-million for the initial development of these schools in each of the seven education districts of the Western Cape.

The focus schools form part of the province’s Human Capital Development Strategy. The WCED expects the schools to serve as pathfinders and lead institutions in their fields.

Key objectives of the project include increasing the number of learners from poor communities who take these subjects for matric, and to improve their access to higher education.

Mr N Kassiem, Principal of Oval North, has commented on the school’s decision to become a focus school as follows:

"Oval North Secondary School, in Oval North Road, Beacon Valley, Mitchell’s Plain, has a staff compliment of 45 highly qualified and dedicated educators.

"Oval North has been identified by the Western Cape Education Department as an Engineering Focus School. As a result there are now a variety of engineering disciplines on offer for the community in Mitchell’s Plain and the immediate surroundings.

"The different fields include Engineering Graphics and Design, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Technology and Electrical Technology. The above includes Fitting and Turning, Welding and Metalworking, Motor Mechanics, Electrician’s Work. Existing workshops have had to be revamped in order to include these new subjects.

"Our goal is to produce as many future engineers as we possibly can. These educators have an excellent track record of fifteen years. As a result of their dedication Mr H Valentine, a Fitting & Turning educator produced the best results in his subject in 2004. In 2005 Mr D Pillay, a Welding and Metalworking educator achieved second position in the province.

"With the support of the Western Cape Education Department, Oval North will be training learners as future engineers at related disciplines. Female learners are encouraged to be a part of this field of study, as they will complement the Human Capital Development Strategy. This will also satisfy the growing demand for women engineering graduates. South Africa is going to need skilled engineers and artisans to maintain the infrastructure of the country and build power stations as well as having to complete massive housing projects.

"Oval North High is the only multi-lateral high school on the eastern side of Mitchell’s Plain. We, however accept all learners from across the peninsula. We offer both academic and technical subjects.

"Our academic subjects include amongst others Accounting and Business Economics, Computer Applications Technology, Physical Science, Biology, History and Mathematics. Oval North also addresses the shortage of accountants and auditors. Mr Esau, the head of the Commerce Department has achieved 100% pass rate in Accounting for the past 5 years.

"There is a huge demand for our technical subjects, especially amongst our female learners.

"Oval North recently acquired a state of the art Khanya Computer Laboratory and a Mindset Laboratory, which will use educational support materials to assist learners with the curriculum. These laboratories are, besides our other IT rooms fully equipped with interactive whiteboards and advanced AUTOCAD software. All our IT facilities are fully air conditioned and wall-to-wall carpeted.

"Oval North also caters fully for the sporting needs of the learners.

"Oval North has a very proud name in the sporting arena. We consistently excel in our athletics interschool section and won the feat once again in 2006. Our Mr Price Soccer team is breaking new ground.

"Our learners are involved in various youth leadership programmes amongst others, Junior City Council, Spades, TAC, Molo Sonogololo, Child Resource Centre, Dance for Life, It’s up to You and Smart.

"We believe that the spiritual development of a child is important and therefore we have a very active Christian and Muslim Society.

"Tertiary qualifications are in excess of 200 years and combined teaching experience is in excess of 650 years.

"With the opening of parliament our President stated that all sectors of our society must contribute towards our country achieving a 6% economic growth rate and Oval North shall do its part in realizing this goal.

"Oval North has acquired exciting partnerships in the business sector. It is our goal to ensure that when a learner leaves our school the learner will either be able to study at a tertiary institution or be equipped to enter the job market."

The Khanya Project is an initiative of the WCED to support teaching and learning using information and communication technology, focusing in particular on schools serving poor communities.

Recent Khanya projects have included ensuring that every high school in the Western Cape has a computer laboratory to support the introduction of the national curriculum in Grades 10 to 12.

Khanya is also making significant progress towards installing computer laboratories in primary schools.

The new computer laboratory at Oval North will support the development of the school as an Engineering Focus School.