Eleven New Schools Set to Open in the Western Cape at Start of the 2012 School Year

Media Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Education

I am very excited to announce that 11 new schools, four primary and seven secondary, are expected to open at the beginning of the 2012 academic year. (Please see attached map.)

Ten of the 11 new schools form part of the WCED's infrastructure plan, which includes the building of 25 new schools and 20 replacement schools in the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

An audit of the province's infrastructure at the end of 2009 indicated that there was a need for new schools to meet the demands of increased enrolment in certain areas caused by, amongst other things, inward migration and new housing developments.

In February 2010, I announced the WCED infrastructure plan, indicating that it was, I quote, "an exciting and bold plan, but we believe it can be achieved".

As is evident below, our new infrastructure plan is well on its way to meeting its targets.

Since the announcement of the plan, the Department has already planned and completed the building of eight new schools in the province, 11 are currently in the final stages of construction (including ten mentioned below) and an additional 12 schools are in their planning stages. In addition, the new Hout Bay Primary School will be completed by the start of the 2012 school year, which has been built using private funding.

At the start of the 2012 school year, the following 11 new schools will open their doors to learners of the Western Cape.

Seven of the 11 new schools will be enrolling learners for the first time. These schools include:

• Blue Downs Primary School (Metro East) - Applications for enrolment in Grades 1 to 3 are already underway.
• Northpine Technical High School (Metro East) - Applications for enrolment in Grades 8 and 9 are expected to open in October 2011.
• Citrusdal High School (West Coast) - Applications for enrolment for Grades 8 to 12 are already underway.
• Delft Technical High School (Metro North) - Applications for enrolment for Grades 8 and 9 are already underway.
• Fisantekraal Secondary (Metro North) - Applications for enrolment in Grades 8, 9 and 10 are already underway.
• Melkbosstrand High School (Metro North) - Applications for enrolment in Grades 8 and 9 are already underway.
• Hout Bay Primary School (Metro Central) - Applications for enrolment in Grades R to 2 are expected to open in October 2011.

Although Melkbosstrand HS will officially open and begin teaching and learning at the start of the school year, learners are expected to move into the new school building only in April 2012. The school will be temporarily located at Boubergrant High School, where a separate section of this school has been allocated to house the new Melkbosstrand HS learners.

Parents wishing to enroll their children at any of these new schools can contact the relevant district office for further information.

The other four new schools expected to open at the beginning of 2012 include those that already have already been operating for a number of years but have been temporarily located in mobile classrooms. These schools were established after a sudden increase in population in the area. Temporary mobiles were put in place to accommodate the learners and educators concerned. Learners from all existing grades will simply move from the old premises to their new one at the beginning of the year.

These schools include:

• Naphakade Secondary (West Coast) - Enrolment for learners in Grades 8 to 12 currently open.
• Aberdare Primary - Enrolment for learners in Grades R to 7 currently open (Grade R learners to be enrolled for the first time).
• Hindle Road West Primary - Enrolment for learners in Grades R to 7 currently open (Grade R learners to be enrolled for the first time).
• Hindle Road Secondary - In 2012, the school will expand to Grade 12, therefore enrolment for Grades 8 to 12 now open.

The WCED are currently ensuring that all the necessary logistical requirements, such as school furniture, equipment and learner support materials, are being ordered for delivery just before the start of the school year.

I look forward to visiting the schools in the new year and am confident that their now empty classrooms will be transformed into hubs of teaching and learning, where learners and educators are safe and secure, and where quality learning is taking place.