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Media Release

30 September, 2009

MEC Grant announces appointment of new Western Cape Head of Education

Statement by Donald Grant, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

I am pleased to announce that the Cabinet of the Western Cape has endorsed the recommendation by the Provincial Selection Panel concerning the appointment of a new Head of Education (HOD) - the most senior official in the Western Cape Education Department.

The Selection Panel met on the 26th of September 2009 to interview a number of outstanding candidates and to decide on their relative suitability. The final recommendation to the Western Cape Cabinet was made only after lengthy deliberation.

The position as HOD has been offered to Ms Penelope Vinjevold and has since been accepted.

Ms Vinjevold has an excellent track record in education. She has worked as a teacher, a teacher educator, an education researcher and as a senior education official both in the Western Cape and in the national Department of Education where she is currently the Deputy Director-General: Further Education and Training.

Ms Vinjevold taught for sixteen years at schools in Johannesburg, Mafeking and Soweto. Thereafter she became the General Manager of Evaluations and Research at the Joint Education Trust. She has experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methodology, especially in the development, administration and analysis of learner assessment instruments. She has also undertaken extensive research into the results of the Senior Certificate Examinations.

In 2000, Ms Vinjevold was appointed by the National Minister of Education, Kader Asmal, to a 7-person Ministerial Project Committee to oversee the development of the Revised Curriculum Statement for Grades R-9. In 2002 she joined the Western Cape Education Department as Chief Director: Planning, and in 2005 she joined the national Department of Education as Deputy Director-General: Further Education and Training.

As with all senior appointments in the Public Service, the formalization of Ms Vinjevold's appointment is subject to the completion of a contract and a performance management agreement. The appointment will be effective from 1 November 2009, for a period of 5 years. The performance management agreement will be revised annually.

As MEC, I share the confidence shown by the Western Cape Cabinet in the ability of the new HOD to provide education in this province with the necessary professional vision and leadership required to create appropriate quality learning opportunities for learners and a stable and rewarding professional environment for educators.

On behalf of the Western Cape education community, I would like to pay tribute to Mr Brian Schreuder, who has during his tenure as acting HOD carried out his additional responsibilities with dedication and commitment. Mr Schreuder will continue to act as HOD until 31 October 2009. He will then return to the position of Deputy Director-General: Curriculum Management.

Our focus now is to ensure that a smooth transition continues to take place and that the WCED delivers the best possible service to all our stakeholders.

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.


Issued by:
Bronagh Casey
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2377
Fax: 021 425 5689

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


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