Statement by Yousuf Gabru, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

The rain has cleared over large parts of the province and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) requested principals to determine the damage and get quotations for mop-up operations and repairs to damaged school buildings and other infrastructure.

Areas like Touwsrivier, De Doorns, Rawsonville, Worcester, Robertson, Bonnievale, Ashton and Montagu were especially hard-hit by the rains and floods.

A search is still underway for Daniella de Wee, a Grade 12 learner at Hexvallei Secondary School, who is presumed drowned.

Grade 12 learners sat for Physical Sciences Paper 1 today (Friday, 14 November 2008) and special arrangements were made in Montagu, Ashton and Robertson to enable learners to write the exam. Grade 12 learners who could not reach their exam centre were accommodated at other centres. Arrangements have been made to deliver their scripts at the exam centre where they are registered to facilitate required record keeping.

An additional exam centre was also set up in Touwsrivier where a large part of the town is flooded. A rubber duck, owned by Disaster Management, was used to transport question papers from De Kruine Secondary School to Touwsrivier Primary School where six matriculants sat for the exam.

At least 35 rural primary schools in the Cape Winelands Education district were closed yesterday (Thursday, 13 November 2008) and today because the roads are impassable or the school buildings are flooded. In the Eden Central Karoo district al the learners at six primary schools were absent and in the Overberg schools in the Genadendal area were badly affected by the heavy downpours.

Schooling is expected to return to normal on Monday (17 November 2008).

For enquiries, contact Millicent Merton:  072 724 1422 or mmerton@pgwc.gov.za.

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

The Western Cape - A Home for All
INtshona Koloni - iKhaya loMntu wonke
Die Wes-Kaap - 'n Tuiste vir Almal