Media Release
Minister of Education Donald Grant
Western Cape

15 January, 2014

1^st Day of school – few tears and happy faces.

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

This morning, over 950 000 learners in the Western Cape attended the first day of school.

Approximately 100 000 of these were new enrolments into Grade 1.

So far, there have been no major incidents. However, we do expect to have some “teething problems” within the next week or so, as we deal with any outstanding matters such as late enrolment or the provision of additional resources.

Some of the reports we have received so far include, a shortage of DBE workbooks at a school in Eden Karroo District where we expect delivery from DBE in the coming days, a burst water pipe at a school in Metro East which is being dealt with, and individual enrolment queries.

In the coming days, schools will report to districts any places available due to enrolled learners not arriving at their particular school.

In many cases, parents have enrolled their children at two or more schools. Therefore spaces become available for learners who are on waiting lists or are looking for placement at a school.

I again appeal to parents to phone our Call Centre which will put them in touch with the relevant district officials (0861-92-33-22).

We therefore ask that parents work with us during this period as we identify placement at schools.

I should like to welcome all our new learners and their parents into our Western Cape schools.

Parents have an important role in their child’s school career and we ask that they assist us in this 12 year journey in cultivating and encouraging their child’s reading and writing skills.

Each Grade 1 parent has received or will soon receive a booklet which is a guide for parents with learners entering Grade 1. The guide includes some suggestions as to what parents must do to support their child in the first year of school.

It provides a snapshot of the Language and Mathematics curriculum and how parents can help their children in these subjects. It also includes information on what children must know and be able to do by the end of Grade1 and recommended reading lists.

While reading, writing and calculating will be focus areas for all our learners in 2013, it is important that all parents of a learner, in any grade, ensure that their child attends school - on time and ready to participate.

This morning, I was very pleased to see how organised the educators and school management was at Fairview PS in Grassy Park.

One would expect some form of delay in the morning with the enrolment of new learners. However, all learners, including the Grade 1s, were in their classrooms by 08h00, seated and learning.

There were a few tears, but all in all, a happy cohort of learners at Fairview PS!

I was also delighted to see the new school buildings at the school. Fairview PS is one of three schools that were replaced with new school buildings during the course of 2013 and are ready for the start of the 2014 school year. The other two schools are Kathleen Murray PS and Plantation Road PS.

Replacing a school essentially means replacing with new brick and mortar structures old school buildings originally built with inappropriate materials.

Replacing inappropriate structures requires building a new school on the existing school property. In some projects, the new structure is built adjacent to the old structure so that the learners may continue to use the premises of the old school while the building of the new structure is underway.

In other instances, the provision of alternative accommodation (such as mobile units) is required for learners during the building process. The old inappropriate structures are torn down to make way for the new building.

There are 4 new schools and 17 replacement schools under construction this year and a further 11 new schools and 16 replacement schools are in the planning stages.

This is an exciting plan and we look forward to their completion.

Finally, good luck to all our learners and educators for the 2014 school year. I hope it’s a productive and happy year and that we continue to improve on all our results in all areas.

Media enquiries:
Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Donald Grant
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2377
Fax: 072 425 3616