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

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) launched a new education district in the Overberg today (Tuesday, 22 July 2008) to bring development support much closer to schools in the region.

The decision to increase the number of education districts in the province from seven to eight forms part of the redesign of the WCED.

The new Overberg Education District covers the municipal areas of Cape Agulhas, Overstrand, Swellendam and Theewaterskloof.

The district contains 81 schools, including 52 primary, 13 secondary, 11 intermediate and five combined schools. About 107 000 learners attend school in the Overberg district, including about 4 500 children in Grade R and pre-primary schools.

The WCED has divided the eight districts of the province into 49 circuits and is currently building strong professional teams in each circuit to bring development support closer to schools where this support is needed the most.

The primary aim of the redesign is to ensure that the WCED has the capacity to deliver the Human Capital Development Strategy (HCDS) of the Western Cape. The HCDS is a cornerstone of the province's shared growth and development strategy.

Following extensive research and consultation, the WCED has established eight education districts, based local government boundaries, to facilitate an integrated approach to service delivery by all levels of government, in line with national policy.

The new Overberg Education District will increase the number of rural districts from three to four, to match the four urban districts serving education in the greater Cape Town area.

The four rural districts are West Coast, Cape Winelands, Eden and Karoo, and Overberg. The four urban districts are Metro North, Metro South, Metro East and Metro Central.

The rural district boundaries are based on municipal boundaries, while urban district boundaries are based on those of city wards. The boundaries also allow for an equitable distribution of schools and resources across education districts and circuits.

The WCED plans to base the Overberg District on the campus of the Boland College in central Caledon. The department and the college plan to convert the college's hostel complex outside Caledon into a new campus for the college as a whole.

Key district services include advice and coordination on curriculum delivery, education for learners with special needs, and institutional management and governance (IMG).

The work of district IMG Advice and Coordination Units will include supporting adult education and early childhood development centres, and school enrichment coordinators to help schools in managing enrichment and extra-curricular programmes in sport and cultural activities.

Typical circuit teams will include advisors responsible for IMG at schools, school administration, general education and training (GET, Foundation, Intermediate and Senior phases), and special needs, including school psychologists, social workers and learning support advisors.

Curriculum advisors for further education and training (FET) will operate on the district level.

The WCED has appointed Makhosandile Ndzuzo as Director of the Overberg Education District. Mr Ndzuzo is a graduate of Fort Hare University and the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained his B.Pedagogics and B.Education desgrees.

Before his current appointment, Mr Ndzuzo was principal of the Desmond Tutu Secondary School and was Circuit Manager of the Helderberg Circuit in the Paarl Area, which later became part of the West Coast Winelands District.

The launch of the Overberg Education Districts marks a new era in education delivery in the Overberg. The education district office looks forward to working with all schools and partners in every sector to ensure access to quality education for every learner in the region.

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

For further information regarding the Overberg Education district, click here.

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

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