Date: 21/08/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Maddison Primary School
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, AT MADDISON PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LETJIESBOS, 21 August 2003
Power to the Pupils
Premier Brings Electricity to Rural School
Which Waited 58 Years
Maddison Primary School and its principal, Ms Sally de Koker, are examples of the spirit and dedication, which characterises so many of the rural school communities in the Western Cape. Started in 1945 as a one-person school with about 30 learners mostly the sons and daughter of farm workers - it has become an example of what commitment and hard-work can achieve. By 1994 when Ms de Koker became the principal, she decided to convert the principal's residence into a boarding facility which became the temporary home of 14 learners.
In addition to providing, at her own cost, food, bedding, cutlery, toiletries, medicine, clothes and shoes, Ms de Koker has also ensured that her students continue to receive the best possible education. On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape we would like today to pay tribute to the hundreds of educators around the province whose selfless efforts continue to help our rural learners under difficult circumstances. One of the biggest obstacles to quality education at Maddison has been the lack of electricity.
In fully developed nations, information and communication technology is as much a part of home and school life as are pots, pans, pens and pencils. In many countries, babies begin playing on specially designed keyboards almost before they can walk. A five-year old boy in Thailand recently became the youngest person ever to pass Microsoft's Office User Specialist Examination. By the time these children enter school, they use technology as if it was the most natural tool in the world. By the time they reach adulthood and start searching for work, technology is a way of life.
By contrast, millions of African and South African children still face schools with no running water, no electricity, and no sign of high-tech education. When they enter the job market, it is with skills and knowledge that cannot compete on the global stage in effect, a low-tech education places them more than 50 years behind their international peers.
Electricity plays a crucial part in the daily lives of millions of South Africans, in businesses, in industries and most importantly in our schools. Yet this "everyday" commodity is glaringly absent in the lives of thousands in our rural communities. The results of Census 2001 show that only 51,4% of households in South Africa have access to electricity. Although this figure is higher in the Western Cape (78,8%) the reality is that electricity is a basic need, which is not met in many of our poorest communities. It has been estimated that up to 10 000 schools in South Africa do not have access to electricity * about 33 of these are in the Western Cape, and that is 33 too many. This is one of the many reasons why I am pleased today to officially switch on the electricity at Maddison Primary for the first time in its 58-year history.
Our Western Cape Provincial Government is well aware of our responsibility to create access, especially for our rural communities, to the digital age of information. That is why we have set ourselves, in conjunction with Eskom, the goal to electrify all the schools in the Western Cape close to the national grid by 2004. For those, in the furthest rural regions away from the grid, we will be investigating solar power, generators and other alternative options. Eskom has allocated R1 106 200 to electrify 13 schools in the province during the 2003/2004 financial year, whilst the National Treasury has allocated R101 million to electrify 1 349 schools nationwide during the 2003/2004 financial year.
The electrification of our schools will impact positively on both the quality of education our learners receive and the quality of their lives. In addition to basic electric lighting the usage of electronic teaching aids like overhead projectors, curriculum based software, the Internet, and educational television will also aid in enhancing the education experience of our children.
Furthermore, Eskom's electrification project is also contributing towards the goal of the Western Cape Education Department's Telecommunications Project to have all the schools in the province connected to the Internet. Once we have linked every single school in the province to the Internet, we will have made serious progress on our intention to bridge the digital divide not only between our different schools in the province, but also between us and the rest of the world.
The Provincial Government of the Western Cape is absolutely committed to closing the digital divide and making access to World Class quality education a right in the Western Cape.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
21 August 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Maddison Primary School
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, AT MADDISON PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LETJIESBOS, 21 August 2003
Power to the Pupils
Premier Brings Electricity to Rural School
Which Waited 58 Years
Maddison Primary School and its principal, Ms Sally de Koker, are examples of the spirit and dedication, which characterises so many of the rural school communities in the Western Cape. Started in 1945 as a one-person school with about 30 learners mostly the sons and daughter of farm workers - it has become an example of what commitment and hard-work can achieve. By 1994 when Ms de Koker became the principal, she decided to convert the principal's residence into a boarding facility which became the temporary home of 14 learners.
In addition to providing, at her own cost, food, bedding, cutlery, toiletries, medicine, clothes and shoes, Ms de Koker has also ensured that her students continue to receive the best possible education. On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape we would like today to pay tribute to the hundreds of educators around the province whose selfless efforts continue to help our rural learners under difficult circumstances. One of the biggest obstacles to quality education at Maddison has been the lack of electricity.
In fully developed nations, information and communication technology is as much a part of home and school life as are pots, pans, pens and pencils. In many countries, babies begin playing on specially designed keyboards almost before they can walk. A five-year old boy in Thailand recently became the youngest person ever to pass Microsoft's Office User Specialist Examination. By the time these children enter school, they use technology as if it was the most natural tool in the world. By the time they reach adulthood and start searching for work, technology is a way of life.
By contrast, millions of African and South African children still face schools with no running water, no electricity, and no sign of high-tech education. When they enter the job market, it is with skills and knowledge that cannot compete on the global stage in effect, a low-tech education places them more than 50 years behind their international peers.
Electricity plays a crucial part in the daily lives of millions of South Africans, in businesses, in industries and most importantly in our schools. Yet this "everyday" commodity is glaringly absent in the lives of thousands in our rural communities. The results of Census 2001 show that only 51,4% of households in South Africa have access to electricity. Although this figure is higher in the Western Cape (78,8%) the reality is that electricity is a basic need, which is not met in many of our poorest communities. It has been estimated that up to 10 000 schools in South Africa do not have access to electricity * about 33 of these are in the Western Cape, and that is 33 too many. This is one of the many reasons why I am pleased today to officially switch on the electricity at Maddison Primary for the first time in its 58-year history.
Our Western Cape Provincial Government is well aware of our responsibility to create access, especially for our rural communities, to the digital age of information. That is why we have set ourselves, in conjunction with Eskom, the goal to electrify all the schools in the Western Cape close to the national grid by 2004. For those, in the furthest rural regions away from the grid, we will be investigating solar power, generators and other alternative options. Eskom has allocated R1 106 200 to electrify 13 schools in the province during the 2003/2004 financial year, whilst the National Treasury has allocated R101 million to electrify 1 349 schools nationwide during the 2003/2004 financial year.
The electrification of our schools will impact positively on both the quality of education our learners receive and the quality of their lives. In addition to basic electric lighting the usage of electronic teaching aids like overhead projectors, curriculum based software, the Internet, and educational television will also aid in enhancing the education experience of our children.
Furthermore, Eskom's electrification project is also contributing towards the goal of the Western Cape Education Department's Telecommunications Project to have all the schools in the province connected to the Internet. Once we have linked every single school in the province to the Internet, we will have made serious progress on our intention to bridge the digital divide not only between our different schools in the province, but also between us and the rest of the world.
The Provincial Government of the Western Cape is absolutely committed to closing the digital divide and making access to World Class quality education a right in the Western Cape.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
21 August 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
