Media Release
Minister of Education Donald Grant
Western Cape

18 March, 2012

Minister Grant attempts to meet representatives of the Elgin Grabouw Civic Organisation to discuss issues affecting learners at Umyezo Wama Apile Combined School

Statement by Minister Donald Grant, Minister of Education, Western Cape

Earlier today, Minister Donald Grant and Mr Michels and other representatives of the Elgin Grabouw Civic Organisation (EGCO) were due to meet to discuss details of the Western Cape Education Department's plan to address the accommodation issues currently affecting learners at Umyezo Wama Apile Combined School in Grabouw.

However, at the last minute this afternoon and after delaying the meeting for a number of hours, Mr Michels insisted on new conditions for the meeting which had been agreed to with the Minister. On this new basis the meeting could regrettably not go ahead.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) remains committed to the following:

• As an interim solution to the accommodation issues at hand, the WCED will install mobile classrooms on a temporary site for use by the start of the second term as soon as this site is secured;
• As part of a long-term solution to the accommodation issues at hand, the WCED will continue to source and secure suitable permanent land on which to build two new schools for the learners.

In addition the WCED will continue to provide the necessary curriculum support to Grade 12 learners currently enrolled at the school and arrange that the school feeding scheme in place at the school continues for the remainder of the first school term.

A full media briefing on the matter will be held tomorrow at 13h00 to brief the media in more detail.

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

Media enquiries:
Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Donald Grant
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 072 724 1422
Fax: 021 467 2377