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

Mr Adam Marais, a 72-year-old retired bus driver, is among adult learners who received awards from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) this week.

Mr Marais won an award as the most senior adult learner to pass an ABET Level 4 assessment in 2006. The second most senior ABET Level 4 learner is Mrs Margareth de Jongh, also 72, a community worker who helps the elderly.

The WCED presented awards to adult achievers at a special ceremony at the Cape Teaching Institute in Kuils River on Thursday night (22 March 2007).

The department also presented awards to adult learning centres that achieved excellent results in the ABET Level 4 and Senior Certificate exams in 2006, and that improved levels of learner participation last year.

A total of 7 174 adult learners registered for various ABET Level 4 learning areas in the Western Cape in 2006, of whom 4 938 wrote the exams. This reflects a turn-out rate of 69.23%, a slight improvement in the turn-out rate for 2005, which was 68.7%.

Highlights of the 2006 exams include Economics and Management Sciences, where results improved by 22.2% compared to 2005. This result reflects special interventions by WCED curriculum planners and ABET centre teams.

The overall pass mark improved slightly in 2006, by 0.03%, compared to 2005.

Meanwhile, the WCED has welcomed a marked increase in the number of adults entering for the Senior Certificate exams at adult learning centres.

A total of 12 557 matric candidates entered for the matric exams at adult learning centres in 2006, compared to 11 555 in 2005, an increase of 1002, or 8.67%. More candidates wrote the exams and passed more subjects that in the preceding two years.

Said Education MEC Cameron Dugmore: "My congratulations to all those who have received awards, they are truly an inspiration to all of us. I am delighted that there has been a marked increase in entries and passes.

"The WCED is committed to ensure access to quality education for all, and I applaud initiatives like the Each One Teach Ten from our Winelands District office, which is a plan to build a learning home for all, and encourage growth and sustainable development.

"These achievements are clearly a sign of quality and depth, as we begin to roll-out the Human Capital Development Strategy."

Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape, said: "We are pleased that more candidates are prepared to give it a go. Young people are now realising that matric does provide access to further opportunities in life," said Mr Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape.

"We now live in an open society with more opportunities for young people than ever before, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds."

The WCED presented awards to individual learners who wrote ABET Level 4 assessments, in five categories, namely:

• Achievers in specific subject categories

• The oldest candidates passing an ABET Level 4 assessment

• The top three candidates who passed eight subjects in October 2006

• The top candidates for the General Education and Training Certificate, and

• Special awards for learners who wrote three or more subjects.

The WCED presented awards to adult learning centres who entered candidates for ABET Level 4 assessments, in four categories:

• Excellence according to a set of criteria

• The top centres for specific subjects

• Top centres according to centre focus areas, and

• Centres that have shown the greatest improvement in adult learner participation.

The department also presented awards to centres that achieved excellent results in the 2006 Senior Certificate exams, in two categories:

• Excellence in three subjects from a specific list, and

• Top centres for specific subjects.

The following is a full list of the WCED's Adult Awards for 2006:

ABET Level 4

Category A: Candidates

1. Top Candidates per Specific Learning Areas

   English

   • Wilfred Godwin Karlse, 52, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Darrel Petersen, 24, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Colleen Webber, 37, Maryland Literacy Project, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   IsiXhosa

   • Xolani Sydwell Mali, 38, Drakenstein Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Vuyisile Mona, 51, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Afrikaans

   • Pieter Fortuin, 38, Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Howard Vollmer, 38, Malmesbury Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Conrad Johannes Claasen, 35, City of Cape Town, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Mathematical Literacy

   • Howard Vollmer, 38, Malmesbury Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Wilfred Godwin Karlse, 52, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   • Gerhard Benjamin, 32, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Natural Sciences

   • Isaac Otto, 30, Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre, B symbol (June 2006 assessment)

   • Calvin Olivier, 18 years, Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre, B symbol (October 2006 assessment).

2. Oldest candidate passing a Level 4 assessment.

   2.1.

   Born on 17 August 1934, our most senior ABET level 4 learner is Adam Jacobus Marais, 72. A bus driver during his working life, this gentleman attended Eureka Adult Centre, a satellite of Elsies River CLC, that operates in the Adriaanse Library in Elsies River. He is a very eager learner and although he only started half way through the year in 2005 at this centre. In 2005 he had passed two learning areas Human and Social Sciences as well as Ancillary Health Care. In the October 2006 examination he passed Afrikaans, English, Math Lit, Natural Sciences and EMSC. He is a true community worker, helping the elderly with their pension forms and visiting those that are ill. He is very active and often walks to the centre from Ravensmead where he lives with his wife.

   2.2.

   Our second most senior ABET level 4 learner is Margareth De Jongh, 72, from Atlantis Volwasse Onderrig Sentrum. A housewife, she belongs to a club for the aged. This lady attended Atlantis Adult Centre. She registered for the learning areas English and Ancillary Health Care in 2006. She is very committed and hardworking. She is a very down to earth and shy person. She is a true community worker, helping the elderly in providing them with food and assistance. She was born on 8 November 1934.

3. Top 3 learners from public adult learning centres who passed eight learning areas during the October assessment.

   Melanie Lucille Fransman, 24, St Francis Community Learning Centre, B symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Bonita Forbes, 35, Forest Heights Secondary Community Learning Centre, B symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Jerome Errol Fortuin, 38, Scottsdene Community Learning Centre, B symbol (October 2006 assessment)

4. Top learners who achieved the General Education and Training Certificate (GETC) (DCS)

   Wilfred Godwin Karlse, 52, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Gerhard Benjamin Jantjies, 32, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

   Darrel Petersen, 24, Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, A symbol (October 2006 assessment)

5. Special awards for outstanding candidates who wrote three or more learning areas (maximum three), but who did not qualify for a GETC in one sitting.

   Adam Booysen, 27, Witzenberg Community Learning Centre: A symbols in Afrikaans 85%, Life Orientation 81% and Small, Medium and Microenterprises (SMME) 81%

   Sipho Paul, 34 years, Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre: A symbols in English 89%, Human and Social Sciences 91% and SMME 84%

   Isaac Otto, 30, Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre: A symbols in English 90%, Human and Social Sciences 80% and SMME 86%

Category B: Public Adult Learning Centres (ABET Level 4)

The following awards are based on specific criteria that have been applied to the ABET Level 4 results of June and October 2006.

1. Excellence according to a set of criteria

   Centres that offered opportunities and achieved excellence in the October 2006 assessment. Criteria include:

   Offered 8 or more learning areas during the assessment period

   Registered 10 or more candidates per learning area in 4 or more learning areas, the rest having at least 5 candidates registered per learning area.

   • Turnout rate of 75% or more in all learning areas.

   • Pass rates of 80% or more in 4 learning areas (minimum) and above 70% pass rates in the rest of the learning areas (to a maximum of 8 learning areas overall)

   • No drop in numbers registered from 2004 to 2006.

   • Each centre will receive a certificate and Learning and Teaching Support material to the value of R 2000,00.

   Centres that offered opportunities and achieved excellence in 2006 assessments are:

   Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, in Porterville (EMDC West Coast/Winelands) offered 9 learning areas in the October 2006 assessment, registering more than 10 learners in 9 learning areas at least 5 learners in the rest of the learning areas. Their turnout rate was 75% or more in 9 learning areas and they achieved 80% or more pass rates (distinctions) in 6 learning areas and between 70 and 79% pass rates ('merit') in three learning areas. This was achieved by also increasing their numbers from 23 in 2004 to 23 in 2005 to 29 in 2006, an increase of 6 learners in two years.

   Forest Heights Community Learning Centre, in Eerste River (EMDC East) offered 13 learning areas in the October 2006 assessment, registering more than 10 learners in 9 learning areas with at least 5 learners in the rest of the learning areas. Their turnout rate was 75% or more in 8 learning areas and they achieved 80% or more pass rates (distinctions) in 7 learning areas and between 70 and 79% pass rates ('merit') in two learning areas. This was achieved by also increasing their numbers from 24 in 2004 to 38 in 2005 to 40 in 2006, an increase of 16 learners in two years.

2. Top centres based on pass rates for specific learning areas and the quality of passes.

   In determining winners, pass rates were first looked at, then number of candidates that passed, quality of passes and turnout rates were also considered by the selection panel.

   Centres receive a certificate and Learning and Teaching Support material to the value of R2000 per learning area. The winners are:

   English

   Helderstroom Adult Learning Centre, Caledon (October assessment): 95.2% turnout rate and 100% pass rate. Eight candidates received A or B symbols.

   Afrikaans

   Drakenstein Adult Learning Centre, Paarl (June assessment): 100 % pass rate and 100% turnout rate. Seven candidates received A or B symbols

   isiXhosa

   Helderstroom Adult Learning Centre, Caledon (October assessment): 88.8 % turnout rate and 100% pass rate. Three candidates received A or B symbols

   Mathematical Literacy

   Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, Porterville (October assessment): 100% pass rate, 92.8% turnout rate. Five received A or B symbols

3. Top centres in electives based on pass rate and the quality of passes.

   In determining winners, pass rates were first looked at, then number of candidates that passed, quality of passes and turnout rates were also considered by the selection panel.

   Ancillary Health Care: City of Cape Town (June assessment): 95.4 pass rate, 3 received an A or B symbols.

   Applied Agriculture And Agricultural Technology: Koue Bokkeveld Community Learning Centre, Ceres (October assessment): 92.3% pass rate, 2 candidates received an A or B symbols.

   Small Medium And Microenterprises: Brandvlei Adult Learning Centre, Worcester (October assessment): 94.1% pass rate, 32 passed of which 13 received A or B symbols.

   Tourism: Voorberg Adult Learning Centre, Porterville (October assessment): 100 % pass rate, 26 passed of which 15 received A or B symbols.

4. Greatest Improvement in Participation

   The WCED presented this award to centres that reflected the greatest increase in participation over the period 2004 - 2006.

   Centres must show that they have increased numbers of candidates participating in at least 4 learning areas, two of which must be Languages and Mathematical Literacy. They must also demonstrate a satisfactory turnout rate for examinations in at least four learning areas.

   Drakenstein Adult Learning Centre, Paarl (June assessment): Numbers increased from 2 in 2004, 3 in 2005 and 13 in 2006.

   Worcester Community Learning Centre, Eden (October assessment): Numbers increased from one in 2004 to two in 2005, and six in 2006

Senior Certificate: Awards for Public Adult Learning Centres

The WCED presented awards to centres that performed excellently based upon the following criteria:

• Pass rates above 75% for any three subjects from a specified list of subjects

• Quality of passes taken into account

• At least 10 or more candidates writing in each of the three subjects

• No drop in numbers from 2004 to 2006

1. Excellence in terms of three subjects from a specified list
   • Malmesbury Adult Learning Centre: average of 98.95% for the top three subjects and two A or B symbols in the three subjects.
   • Portland Community Learning Centre: 97.1% average for the top three subjects and two A or B symbols in the three subjects.
   • Atlantis Volwasse Onderwys Sentrum (AVOS): 94.6% average for the top three subjects and five A or B symbols in the three subjects.



2. Top Centres for Specific Subjects

   Criteria:

   • Top centres in the following subjects based upon pass rates and number passing.

   • No drop in numbers from 2004 to 2006.

   English First Language Higher Grade

   Grassy Park Community Learning Centre: 63.9% pass rate, 23 passed.

   Afrikaans First Language Higher Grade

   Sarepta Community Learning Centre: 75% pass rate, 24 passed.

   isiXhosa First Language Higher Grade

   Isibane Adult Learning Centre, 92.9% pass rate, 13 passed

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

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

The Western Cape - A Home for All
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