The end of a remarkable year!
4 December 2019
Brian Schreuder, Head of Department, sent the following message to principals, teachers and administrative staff this week, celebrating the end of 2019: The “Year of the Learner.”
Letter from Brian Schreuder, Head of Department:
The time of year has come when we all celebrate the end of the 2019 school calendar.
It has been a remarkable year, to say the least, for a variety of reasons.
The first reason is by far the firm resolve of many of our schools to ensure Quality Education for every learner, in every classroom, despite ongoing challenges such as increased learner enrolment, gangsterism and poverty.
We have seen countless examples of schools overcoming these challenges, and more, by embracing a positive mindset and attitude and a resolve to “get the job done.”
Another reason, which links to the first, is the way in which schools have supported the Transform to Perform strategy and the objectives of the 2019 theme the “Year of the Learner”.
I am blown away by the many initiatives that have been supported and implemented which are values-driven and support our Mantra: “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”
Please see the following video that is a short summary of the excellent achievements of some of our learners this past year in celebrating the “Year of the Leaner – Developing a values mindset”:
This is of course just a snapshot of the year that was and we hope that you continue to embrace the meaning of this theme, as with our previous themes, the Year of the Teacher and the Year of Values-driven Learning in the 2020 school year.
Many of you will already be aware of the theme for 2020: The Year of Functional Schools – Developing a Values-Driven Team”.
Our vision for education in the Western Cape remains clear – to achieve quality education for every child, in every classroom, in every school in the province. But we cannot do this without having the necessary systems, structures and policies in place. We cannot do this if we do not have supportive and efficient teams. All our schools should embrace this new theme for what it stands for as they have embraced the themes of the past three years.
I will speak more on this theme at the start of the new year and what is expected of all officials, educators and principals in ensuring its meaning becomes a reality.
Please see video – The Year of Functional Schools:
We have an exciting year ahead, but we are also aware that it will be a difficult one due to the current financial climate and the continuing increase in learner numbers throughout the system. We face further budget cuts next year but will do our utmost to protect our basket of posts.
I sincerely hope that you are all well prepared for the start of the new year and will ensure that all the necessary security systems are functional before you lock the gates and go on a much anticipated and deserved break.
I sincerely wish you and your teaching and administrative staff a very happy and peaceful school holiday.
Enjoy your time off and thank you once again for your hard work to realise our vision.
Kind Regards
Brian Schreuder
Head of Department: Western Cape Education Department