Media Release
Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape

2 September, 2014

Minister Schäfer addresses handover of Die Duine Primary School.

Speech by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education

Deputy Minister of Education, Minister Enver Surty
Senior Officials of the WCED
Ms Kiewit - School Principal
Learners, Educators and Parents
Ladies and Gentleman

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today on this important occasion. I am delighted to be here to celebrate with you, the official handover of Die Duine Primary School as part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI).

From what I understand, this school is more than just a school. It is an institution that has brought this community together. It has given this community something to be proud of. Too many of our schools are neglected by the communities that they are there to serve, and it is inspiring to see how you collectively support and protect the school.

Your support is vital and we encourage all members of the community to make this school a long lasting success. Die Duine Primary School is an asset to this community and it is up to you to ensure that it stays this way.

As the Western Cape Government, we have the approach that we are 'Better Together'. This too is evident here at Die Duine Primary School. Not only in the way the school interacts with the community by teaching illiterate parents to read, but also through its extensive interaction with private organisations that benefit our learners. Partnerships such as this are vital and take much time, commitment, energy and dedication to maintain.

I must say, I am also very impressed with the Principal, Mrs Kiewet who has been with the school for 36 years; she has forged invaluable relationships and partnerships with the community and a number of these outstanding organisations have joined us here today. To the educators, not only is your dedication evident in the Annual National Assessment results, but also through your learner and staff attendance rates. You have made strong progress in improving your results, and the upcoming ANA's and the Grade 3,6 and 9 systemic tests will provide you with the opportunity to continue on the improvement trajectory. I look forward to receiving your results.

I would like to thank all involved in building this school into the beacon of hope that it is today.

Many school buildings across South Africa are still inappropriate structures dating back to the apartheid era that needed to be replaced. The Western Cape Government has replaced over 20 schools in the last few years and are currently either building or are in the planning stages of a further 33 schools - 25 of which are ASIDI funded schools.

We appreciate the additional funding that the Department of Education has made available for the ASIDI school programme which has further assisted us in ensuring these schools are indeed a thing of the past.

Here in the Western Cape, with the assistance of the ASIDI programme we will see a total of 25 schools built over two phases, with the 11 schools in batch one envisaged for completion in December 2014.

One of these schools is Die Duine Primary School which now has brand new facilities. These include 25 standard classrooms, a brand new admin block, 4 specialist rooms (computer classroom, multimedia centre and Music classroom and Art Classroom), 4 Grade R classrooms with jungle gyms, 2 PT labs, brand new general purpose hall with an adjourning feeding kitchen and new ablutions facilities.

There are many key role players that played a role in making this new school a success, which has been a wonderful collaborative effort by both the Department of Basic Education and the Western Cape Education Department.

It is my hope that this new school will be transformed into an institution of teaching and learning, where learners, educators and even parents in this case, are safe and secure, and where quality learning can take place.

In education, we are all one big team, striving for the same goal for the future of our children.

It sounds to me as if this school is already making a realm of a difference in this community. I am sure that this lovely new facility will help to make it even better.

Media enquiries:
Jessica Shelver
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 076 175 0663