WESTERN CAPE PREMIER Ebrahim Rasool and Education MEC Cameron Dugmore expressed satisfaction that the vast majority of schools had a smooth start across the province, thanks to good preparation by the schools and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The fact that 15 new schools were completed for the start of the 2006 school year has greatly assisted in meeting some of the accommodation needs in the province.

However, after meeting with some of the top management officials of WCED yesterday, MEC Dugmore said some challenges remain, especially with regards to accommodation and late registrations.

Yesterday, MEC Dugmore, together with representatives of the Provincial Youth Commission visited the Manenberg High School, where a 17-year-old learner Cheslyn Jones was stabbed to death last year.

The principal thanked the MEC, the WCED and the community for their continuous support after the stabbing incident. MEC Dugmore pledged his ongoing support to the school. Parental involvement and social problems remain constant challenges.

At the Hlengisa Primary in Nyanga, MEC Dugmore announced that this school qualifies for Teacher Assistants (TAs), which will be employed in Foundation Phase from the second term of school.

Premier Rasool joined MEC Dugmore at the third school, Matthew Goniwe High in Khayelitsha. Their matric pass rate of 80% in 2003, plummeted to just 43% in 2005.

Premier Rasool said the school was named after a very important person, who died in the struggle against apartheid. He warned that learners and teachers who are continuously late, stay away too often, and are disruptive to the education of fellow learners, will be acted against.

The last school to be visited by the entourage, was the Bloubergrandt Secondary School in Tableview, which is one of the 15 new schools which opened its doors yesterday.

Premier Rasool and MEC Dugmore inspected the facilities and expressed satisfaction. Addressing the media afterwards, Premier Rasool said the school presents an opportunity to be an example for the rest of the province and country, since it is a fully integrated and new school.

Officials of the WCED visited various schools, paying particular attention to the punctual attendance of teachers, human resource issues, learner transport, availability of textbooks and learner support material, admissions and accommodation problems. They will continue to do so today and intervene where necessary.

Said MEC Dugmore: "We have experienced a few logistical difficulties in providing furniture to especially the new schools, but in general, the necessary furniture and equipment is in place.

"Schools received about 99% of their supplies of learning support materials before the term began, and attendance has generally been good by both learners and teachers across the province.

"We have had problems with learners switching schools and parents arriving for the first time to enrol learners. These problems complicate planning, but are not insurmountable.

"Meanwhile, some areas continue to experience pressure, and schools and officials have worked hard to resolve these issues jointly. In Khayelitsha, for example, Sizimisele High School has been sharing premises with Lwandle Primary on a platooning basis.

"We planned to transport Sizimisele learners to the empty Florida Primary School in Ravensmead, but the illegal invasion of local residents made this impossible. Lwandle Primary has now refused to accommodate Sizimisele any longer on a platoon basis. We will now accommodate these learners by transporting them to premises in Leiden, Delft, pending the court case.

"Some parents protested at the department’s decision to close Bridgetown East Primary school. The school was no longer viable because of dwindling numbers of learners at the school. The school is built for 600 learners whereas only 106 learners were enrolled at the school.

"We closed the school following a long period of consultation. A situation had developed where four educators were having to teach across 7 grades. This was not only unsustainable but also not in the best educational interests of the learners. Bridgeville Primary has space, enough teachers and is located less than 1 km from Bridgetown East Primary. I want to appeal to parents to cooperate in the best interests of their children.

"The only serious problem encountered on yesterday, was at the Umyezo Wama Apile Combined School (Grades 1 - 12) in Grabouw, where the principal was absent for the whole week, with the result no planning was done, no time-tables available, and no textbook distribution to learners could take place.

"In fact, the situation was chaotic and learners and teachers wandered around aimlessly. I have asked the department to act in the strongest possible terms against the principal, and to normalise the situation so that learning and teaching can start as soon as possible."

Premier Ebrahim Rasool and MEC Cameron Dugmore, centre, with members of the governing body, staff, learners and representatives of the Youth Commission at Bloubergrant Secondary School on the first day of the 2006 school year. Bloubergrant is one of 15 new schools that opened for business in the Western Cape this year – a record for the province.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.