An extravaganza on 19 and 20 February 2009 will showcase the 28 Focus Schools of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

Over the past three years schools from historically disadvantaged communities have been transformed into Focus Schools, specialising in Arts and Culture; Business, Commerce and Management; and Engineering and Technology. The project was part of the introduction of the new National Curriculum Statement.

The WCED has allocated R49-million for the initial development of these schools. Currently about 90% of the buildings and infrastructure have been completed, nine schools were given Resource Centres and all the Arts and Culture Focus Schools as well as the Western Cape Sport School have been awarded school buses.

Learners at the Arts and Culture focus schools now have access to subjects like dance studies, design, dramatic arts, music and visual arts - subjects that were not previously available to all learners.

Learners at the Business, Commerce and Management Schools are exposed to subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Economics and Computer Application Technology while learners at the Engineering and Technology Schools are equipped with scarce skills needed in the marketplace.

A total of 15 schools will also be targeted this term in a special programme to link learners to the world of work.

Oval North Secondary School in Mitchells Plain was one of the first schools in the province to specialize in engineering and technology. Na-aim Kassiem, the principal, says the country is faced with a critical shortage of engineers and people with related skills. "With the support of the WCED, Oval North will be training learners as future engineers. The majority of the class of 2008 will be studying engineering this year."

Jenny van Papendorp, Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Dance Studies, says the buses awarded to the Arts and Culture Focus Schools will make the schools more accessible. "We have a huge amount of talent out there and the schools will now be able to attract those learners."

Van Papendorp says Grade 12 learners at the Belhar Arts and Culture Focus School successfully auditioned for the UCT School of Dance and the Jazzart Dance Theatre, an indication of the project's success.