Cape Town - The Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) says it has made great strides in addressing the burning issue of learner placements in local schools for the 2023 school year in the province.
In a statement, the department revealed that, as of Tuesday, it had placed approximately 99%, that is 111 616 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners, in schools ahead of the school year next month.
The department also revealed that it was still in the process of placing at least 680, about 1%, of Grade 1 and 8 learners for the 2023 school year. According to it, that is 50 160 more Grade 1 and 8 learners than it had in schools this time last year.
WCED MEC David Maynier commended the Education Department’s officials and schools, saying they had done a phenomenal job under extreme pressure to ensure that every learner had a place to learn next year.
He said: “We are leaving no stone unturned in our effort to place every learner, and we will continue to work to finalise placement for all remaining learners. However, the education system is still under immense pressure, our schools are full, and we are going to struggle to place learners whose parents only apply on arrival in January next year.
“This is why it is so important for communities to support us in delivering the new schools and classrooms we will need, and we must all work together to prioritise the delivery of school infrastructure for our children,” Maynier said.
He also shared that earlier this week Premier Alan Winde had joined him for a site visit to Rosendaal High School in Delft, where the construction of a new junior high school campus as part of the department’s school infrastructure delivery programme was under way.
According to the WCED, its unprecedented school infrastructure delivery programme aims to deliver 842 new classrooms with at least 26 000 places for learners next year.
Maynier said 347 classrooms had already been completed through the programme, with the remaining classrooms under way.
“The management, speed and co-operation in the Rapid School Build Programme differentiate it from typical projects, and it also incorporates new building technologies.
“Our contractors have been very receptive to the programme and will be working through the traditional builders’ holidays to help us deliver more places for learners. They have already made great progress in a short period,” he said.
“Premier Alan Winde echoed my sentiments at the site visit, saying that the speed and quality of the work was inspiring. I thank all the officials, government partners, contractors and school staff who are working tirelessly to get the job done,” Maynier said.