Deputy Minister and MEC Visit Cape Dinaledi Schools

Deputy Minister of Education Enver Surty will visit two Dinaledi schools in the Western Cape tomorrow (Friday 08 September 2006) with Western Cape MEC for Education Cameron Dugmore and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe, in her capacity as Member of Parliament for the Mowbray constituency.

The schools and times for the visits are:

1. Thandokhulu Secondary School, corner Main and Albert Roads, Mowbray - 07h30.
2. Luhlaza High School, Makabeni Road, Khayelitsha - 12h00.

The schools are participating in the national Dinaledi programme, which seeks to increase the number of learners from poor communities who pass matric in Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST).

Dep Min Surty and MEC Dugmore will tour the schools and discuss progress with school management and teachers.

The national and Western Cape education departments have increased the number of schools participating in the programme in the Western Cape over the past year from 10 to 50.

The term "dinaledi" is a Sotho word for stars. The vision of this project is to produce "tomorrow's stars today".

The aims of the Dinaledi Project are:

• To increase the number of learners studying MST subjects in Grades 10-12.
• To increase the number learners studying these subjects on the Higher Grade - especially girls and formerly disadvantaged learners.
• To increase the pass rate and achievement in mathematics and science in these grades.
• To develop the capacity of the mathematics and physical science teachers.

Dinaledi schools are receiving the following support in the Western Cape:

• Mathematics and science equipment.
• A well-resourced computer centre, provided and supported by the WCED's Khanya Technology in Education Project.
• Management and teacher training and support, provided by Khanya and other initiatives.
• Winter schools for Grade 12 learners in mathematics and physical science.
• Career guidance for learners, emphasizing careers requiring mathematics and physical science.
• Science clubs are being encouraged at schools to inculcate a love and wonder for the sciences.
• Officials of the WCED Head Office and the district Education Management and Development Centres are supporting and monitoring the progress of the project.
• Various programmes organised in conjunction with local and international partners.

The national and provincial education departments identified 102 schools across the country in 2001 for special support. The departments agreed to expand the number of schools receiving this support last year to 400. Of these, 40 are in the Western Cape.

The provincial cabinet agreed to provide the same support to ten more schools in the Western Cape, bringing the total number of MST focus schools in the province to 50.

Special interventions at Thandokhulu and Luhlaza this year include the following:

• A 10-day residential, professional development course for teachers at Stellenbosch University for teachers in July, provided by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC).
• Participation in the Science, Engineering and Technology Week at the MTN Science Centre in May.
• Teacher's Pack of science equipment, provided by the DoE.
• Providing a compact disc of Mathematics exercises for Grade 8 and 9.
• A special programme for Grade 8 to consolidate mathematical concepts.
• R10,000.00 additional funding for learning and teaching support materials.
• The DoE donated 100 calculators to Grade 12 learners.
• Learners in Grades 10 and 11 in Dinaledi schools wrote common examinations in November 2005, while learners in Grade 12 will write common examinations in September 2006.
• A teacher and four Grade 12 learners attended Energy Week during the April holiday. The week was an initiative of the Department of Minerals and Energy, as part of the department's career awareness programme.

The UCT Graduate School of Business ran a programme called "Second Chance Mathematics" for Grade 8 and 9 learners at Luhlaza in April, that taught strategies for overcoming fear of mathematics.

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For enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za