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Date : 21/08/2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: C Dugmore: University of Western Cape open day


SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE OPEN DAY, BY MR CAMERON DUGMORE, PROVINCIAL MINISTER OF EDUCATION, Cape Town, 21 August 2004

Thank you Prof Brian O'Connell, Rector and Vice-chancellor
Master of Ceremonies
Distinguished guests
Learners and prospective students
Principals and Teachers
Sponsors and Business Leaders

I want to tell you about two tragic incidents that happened in the week. Yesterday a 16-year-old learner, Mfundo Mgoqi from the Langa High School, was stabbed in the neck during the interval period. He is in a critical condition in hospital.

Just earlier this week, another 18-year-old learner, Mzimasi Marhwanqana from the Matthew Goniwe High School in Khayelitsha, was stabbed in front of the whole class after a squabble involving three learners. Mzimasi died.

I am absolutely appalled at the violent behaviour of our learners. A school is where you are supposed to be safe, equipping yourself with knowledge and values to contribute to the well-being of your family and country.

The incidents are really very tragic, and I will be taking steps to ensure that our schools become weapons-free zones. No weapons of any kind should be allowed onto the school premises.

Having said that: it is heartening for me to see so many learners, students and prospective students here.

It says a lot about our young people, wanting to make a success of their lives.

Certainly, this is a time for excitement. For our country has just been awarded the 2010 Soccer World Cup in our 10th Year of Freedom and Democracy, last weekend we have beaten the All Blacks, and I'm sure later today we will clinch the Tri-Nations. Our swimming team at the Olympics in Athens is also doing us immensely proud. And in this week Bafana has beaten a top team like Tunisia in a friendly.

And whilst we celebrate our sporting achievements, we also have a lot to celebrate in the achievements of education in the last ten years.

The idea of this Open Day where our learners can come to view what the University has to offer in terms of their futures is an important part of reversing the legacies of apartheid in education.

You, the young people, are our future leaders.

Our President, Thabo Mbeki, has given us clear instructions and targets about what needs to be done in education before the end of the financial year in March 2005. It is:

* Not to have any student learning under a tree;
* All schools to have access to clean water and sanitation;
* And recapitalising our FET colleges to ensure relevance to the needs of our economy.

Central to the vision of this new provincial government is to build the Western Cape as a Home for All. The economic development strategy, which we have adopted to build this home for all, we refer to as Ikapa Elihlumayo, which means, "Growing the Cape".

The Premier has challenged the Department of Education to be the key driver in providing the human resources needed to grow and build the Cape.

To this end, we are committed to certain tasks, which we have to conclude within our first 100 days in office - which ends next month 5 September. The two targets in education are:

1. To move the Usasazo School in Maitland to Khayelitsha, which will make it unnecessary for hundreds of pupils to get up in the early hours every morning. Not only will this provide a proper learning environment but will save the department R3 million per year in bus transport
2. The second is that 50% of schools still without electricity must be electrified.

Just last week we launched the annual Learning Cape Festival, which is meant to expose learners as well as educators to a range of career options and training opportunities.

The festival highlights and profiles the best of education, training and development resources and services in the province, and promotes life-long learning.

One of your colleagues, Shirley Walters, observed that in her work experience, she has learnt that adults who continue with their education have a big impact on their children's education.

Well, both my parents are teachers. My father was a school principal, and I have fond memories of my upbringing.

At the launch of the festival, I met a young girl - a 16-year-old learner from Guguletu. She was one of sixteen pupils selected from around the world by the Planetary Society to visit the Space Station Nasa in America.

Her ambition is to be the first black woman in space. And I believe there is no reason whatsoever that this cannot be the case.

If we are indeed serious about growing the Cape as a Learning Home for All, we need partners. Government alone will not succeed. We need to work with our learners, our parents, the higher education institutions, the business and commerce industry and all other stakeholders in education.

We need to build a people's contract to provide the knowledge, skills and values for Ikapa Elihlumayo. This is essential if we are going to truly build this province as a Learning Home for All.

In conclusion, let me just say to the learners: we are increasingly disturbed at the spread of the use of drugs, and especially "tik". Drugs are dangerous and it will ultimately destroy you.

You are unique. Do not let others make decisions for you. If you are going to use drugs, your marks will drop. Rather set yourself positive goals regarding your future.

The previous government denied your parents certain opportunities. Don't let drugs deny you your opportunities.

Drugs are not cool, and gangsters are definitely not funky. It is not heroic to attack helpless people, to wear expensive clothes and jewellery stolen from others, to drive flashy cars acquired from the proceeds of crime. That is the behaviour of a coward.

Real hero's are those that reach for their dreams, that set for themselves positive goals and work hard to achieve them.

Real heroes care for their parents, their brothers and sisters. Real heroes care for their fellow pupils who perhaps do not have something to eat.

So, learners, after this you will probably have a look at some of the career options on display in the cubicles.

Enjoy and have fun and collect as much information as possible on the different options on display.

Thank you

Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
21 August 2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)

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