Education MEC Welcomes the Suspension of the Strike

The announcement yesterday that the public sector strike has been suspended is very welcomed news for education in the Western Cape; however it is important that a final resolution to the current dispute is arrived at as soon as possible.

While the majority of Western Cape schools continued to function as normal during the strike, a number of schools were adversely affected by the industrial action. The department has had to be pro-active in ensuring that no permanent damage has been done to children's opportunities.

In this context it is essential that teaching and learning resumes at these schools as soon as possible. I would like to appeal to all concerned that they return to the classroom ready to make up for work lost.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) implemented a number of strategies during the strike to ensure that teaching and learning continued. A number of these measures will remain in place, especially as they relate to Grade 12 learners, who have been our priority throughout the industrial action.

As detailed previously, we will be running an extensive holiday programme for the Grade 12s worst affected by the strike. This will include holiday camps from 23-30 September. We are also extending our tutoring programme, which will now run until 5 November (originally scheduled to end in mid-October) and we are extending and expanding the telematics programme.

We have also developed a Grade 12 resource centre on the WCED website, and I would like to encourage all Grade 12 learners to consult this site. A number of useful documents are available for download, including:

• A Grade 12 hotline - 0800 200 506 - this number can be used to access all available support for Grade 12 learners.
• The National Senior Certificate examination timetable.
• A list of radio stations that we are using to provide curriculum assistance to Grade 12 learners in preparation for their final exams.
• Study supplements that were previously published in the Cape Argus and Die Burger.
• A database of exemplar questions and memorandum papers.
• Details of how to order DVDs of previous telematics lessons.

We are confident that sufficient time remains for all other grades to make up for time lost and we will be appealing to schools affected by the strike to run extra classes to ensure that this happens.

We have also stated throughout the strike that September exams must be completed by the end of this month. With the planning already in place and the support of district officials, this goal will be achieved.

I would like to assure all parents, learners and teachers that we are providing every possible support to ensure that the rhythm of teaching and learning resumes.

The past few weeks have been a very difficult time for education, now is our chance to move forward and to put the best interests of learners first.