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Media Release

12 October, 2007

Multi-million rand pledge to boost literacy and numeracy in rural schools

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has welcomed a pledge of two-million rand to boost literacy and numeracy in rural schools, announced at a special event yesterday at Wardia Primary, a farm school near Montagu.

Mr Elias Mphande, Chief Executive Officer of Vukani Gaming, said its company has a mission to give back to communities, and over the past three years through V-Slots it has helped 175 schools in the Western Cape.

The funds donated to Edupeg (http://www.edupeg.co.za/history.htm), an educational project of the SA Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) has helped empower 1,667 teachers and train 54,959 pupils, said Liz Swersky of Edupeg.

She said "the Edupeg training model is multiple-choice, self-corrective and integrated and can be used in an Outcomes-based education system. The model is contained in 22 individual colour-coded workbooks and involves cross-cirricular exercises including language, literacy, numeracy, life skills, human and environmental sciences. The model revolves around a series of teacher workshops backed by school-based visits."

MEC Dugmore said: "We are all aware that many of our schools in the province, as well as the schools in Montagu, are not immediately adjacent to the large metropolitan areas. Usually schools located closer to the big cities have many support programmes and projects, while those further a field often lack such support."

He said he will consult with WCED officials to see to what extend the Edupeg training model can be rolled out to benefit all the 280,000 foundation learners in the system across the province, as part of boosting the department's literacy and numeracy strategy."

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


Issued by:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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