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Date
: 20/01/2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: New school year
REMARKS BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK,
ADDRESSING LEARNERS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND MEDIA ON THE FIRST DAY
OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT THE CAPE MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY IN CONSTANTIA, 20 January 2004
Province Set for 2004 School Year: Premier Welcomes First Learners
to Cape Maths, Science and Technology Academy
There is no greater priority for our Provincial Government than
ensuring that the future of every Western Cape learner is as bright
and as prosperous as possible. Today marks the first day of the new
school year in the Western Cape and our education department, our
schools and our teachers stand ready to bring knowledge,
life-skills and success to every young person, in every community
of our province.
2003 was another year of great achievement in Western Cape
education, not only did we raise the Matric pass rate for the third
year in a row (to a record 87,1%) and raise the actual number of
passes by 784 candidates (to 33 769), we again made real progress
in narrowing the remaining gap in the education standards in all
communities. Our former Department of Education and Training (DEAT)
and the House of Representatives schools achieved Matric pass rates
of 71% and 85% respectively. When we recall that these figures were
at 45% and 78,5% only four years ago, it is clear how far we have
come.
One of the most important challenges that remain for education in
our province is to better match the product of our education system
to the needs of our economy and the national and international
market. It has been estimated that many large South African
companies currently spend as much as 10% of their payroll on
educating and training staff compared to the international norm of
4-6% - and much of this training is basic literacy and numeracy
skills, as well as in the fields of mathematics, science and
technology.
In these subjects, which remain critical for competitiveness, the
Western Cape has continued to improve its education results, with
the number of passes in higher-grade maths rising from 3461 in 2001
to 3679 in 2002 and again to 3950 last year. In higher-grade
science the number rose from 3487 in 2001 to 3670 in 2002 and again
to 3901 last year. With pass rates of 88,6% and 89,8% in these
subjects respectively, our province continues to perform well
relative to other provinces, but we are still falling short of the
number of successful candidates writing these subjects in
international terms.
It is for this reason that I am so pleased today to officially
welcome the first Grade 10 learners to our new Cape Maths, Science
and Technology Academy, the first of its kind in South
Africa.
We officially launched the Academy last March, and since then it
has been extremely active in recruiting top-notch educators as well
as identifying and selecting this first intake of talented students
primarily from formerly disadvantaged communities. With 129
learners already enrolled from communities as wide-spread as
Beaufort West, Calitzdorp, Atlantis, and Groot Brak, and another 81
expected to take up their places within the next few days, our
expectations are high for each and every one of these learners to
pass all of their subjects well on the Higher Grade. There has also
been a conscious effort in the enrolment process to balance the
numbers of male and female learners which has been achieved with 67
males and 62 females enrolled.
These learners will benefit from intensive teaching of the highest
standards, completing the normal Grade 10 curriculum with a focus
on mathematics, Physical Science, Biology, Life Orientation, and
Computer Studies/Information Technology. With excellent computer
and laboratory facilities, and a focus on proceeding to success in
tertiary education and in the job-market, these Grade 10 learners
will break new ground in Western Cape education success.
Naturally the Academy is only a small part of our wider plan to
continue improving the standards and results of our provincial
schooling system, but it is a very visible symbol of the hard work
and dedication that our Education Department, our educators and our
school communities, in partnership with the private sector, is
investing in the future of our children.
Our Provincial Government wishes every school and every educator,
learner and parent all the best for the 2004 school year. The
resources are in place and the field has been prepared for even
greater success this year.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp, Cell: 083 778 9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial
Government
20 January 2004
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