Western Cape NSC Candidates attend Grade 12 Winter Schools across the province

Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education Western Cape

With 125 days to go to the start of the 2019 NSC examinations, the next five months are the most important time in a learner’s school career. 

It is therefore important that as a department, we do all that we can to assist our candidates with their preparation for the upcoming NSC examinations. In order to assist our learners, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has initiated a number of targeted and sustained interventions at schools across the province, including a Winter School and Winter Camps for Grade 12 learners. 

Providing curriculum support to our Grade 12 learners is a priority for this Government, particularly in schools where learners are struggling in specific subjects.

The Grade 12 Winter Schools Programme aims to assist learners in high enrolment subjects. These subjects include Mathematics, Physical Science, Geography, Life Sciences, Accounting and Economics. Many of the programmes on offer will be taught by tutors selected by the WCED. The Winter School programme also includes Winter Camps.

In some schools, curriculum advisors will be supporting and assisting individual school programmes. Additional resource materials have also been developed to complement the lessons being presented.

The dates of each school’s programme differ. Some schools have offered programmes on specific days, while others, throughout the holiday period.

I am extremely encouraged to see the commitment of so many learners to improve their results with a phenomenal number of learners attending Winter Schools across the Western Cape. 

Today, I visited the Grade 12 Winter School Programme at Salt River Secondary School where almost 500 Grade 12 learners from 4 high schools in the area are attending an intensive revision programme ahead of the 2019 NSC examinations.  This Winter School is just one of the many Winter Schools that the WCED is running across the province to ensure that our Grade 12 learners are well prepared for the upcoming examinations.

I was very pleased to see learners making use of the opportunities we have provided to assist them in preparing for their final exams.  It was also a pity that some who were scheduled to come, did not bother.  We can only create opportunities, but people need to take them up.

I wish all the Grade 12’s in our province the very best of luck with their studies over the holidays and for what is the most important examinations they will write in their school careers. 

American Statesman Colin Powell said that "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

Nothing is ever achieved without hard work, and I have every confidence that you will make yourselves and the Western Cape proud.

Good Luck!

Media Enquiries:
Jessica Shelver
Tel: 021 483 6570
Cell: 076 175 0663
E-mail: Jessica.Shelver@westerncape.gov.za