The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will provide appropriate support to effected learners as refugee sites are consolidated.

The WCED has identified 146 learners of school-going age still living in the sites who have been receiving various forms of support in camps and at schools.

The WCED has deployed an official who is working full-time to coordinate support for learners in refugee sites in conjunction with schools, district officials, non-governmental organisations and other partners.

The department will survey the camps at Blue Waters, Harmony Park and Youngsfield next week to determine needs.

A teacher and an assistant are currently teaching 24 learners at Silverstroom on the West Coast.

Wolraad Woltemade Primary School provides transport daily for 11 learners staying at the Richwood Community Hall to attend the school.

The WCED has appointed a teacher to teach 40 learners at the Youngsfield and is considering appointing an assistant.

Kommetjie Primary School has appointed a teacher to teach about 15 learners at the Soetwater camp. The learners and their families will probably move to Blue Waters.

The WCED is providing transport for 55 learners staying in the Blue Waters camp to Mandalay Primary in Mitchell's Plain.

Meanwhile, the WCED has distributed guidelines to schools on how to deal with xenophobia as part of the curriculum for a variety of subjects.

The WCED's Khanya Project has launched a competition for the best screensavers dealing with xenophobia.

Learners have seen the screensavers on thousands of computers in school computer laboratories in all education districts in recent weeks. The WCED will announce the winners shortly.