Media Alert: Thousands of Grade Twelve Learners to be Beamed Matric Message of Support via Satellite

Tomorrow, Western Cape Education Minister will be addressing thousands of learners at various schools across the province through a live satellite transmission. (Please see virtual classroom map attached)

The interactive telematics programme run by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Stellenbosch University, reaches over fourteen thousand (14 000) learners at one hundred and twenty (120) schools in the province.

The Ministry would like to invite journalists to the studio at Stellenbosch University, where a briefing will be held on how the programme works and to witness the Minister giving his official motivational message live to Grade twelve (12) learners ahead of the 2010 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Community Media from various parts of the province are also invited to witness the Ministers address and a live telematics tutoring lesson from a school within your area. (Please contact Bronagh Casey and we will try and arrange for you the nearest school. Contact details below.)

The programme includes broadcasting lessons from Stellenbosch University to learners in schools across the province using satellite technology, laptops and cellphones.

The programme began in 2009, with a pilot of ten (10) schools. The success of the pilot prompted the WCED to extend the programme to a further one hundred and ten (110) schools in the province to assist Grade twelves' (12s) in subjects that have low pass rates - all delivered by educators who are experts in their relevant field.

Tomorrow, learners studying English First Additional Language will get to see the Minister's address and thereafter, receive a tutoring lesson on the essay 'Nothing but the Truth' followed by Afrikaans Home Language concentrating on Question Paper 2.

For those visiting the Stellenbosch University Studio:

Venue: Admin A, Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch University (Department of Telematic Services).

Date: 20 October 2010

Time: 17h00

For those visiting community schools:

Address will start at 17:30 sharp, followed by a live telematics tutoring lesson.

Some suggested schools:

• Aloe Secondary (Mitchells Plain)
• Kulani Secondary (Langa)
• Breerivier Sekonder (Worcester)
• Morester Hoërskool (Oudshoorn)

Telematic Map