Western Cape Education Department Awards Achievers in Literacy and Numeracy

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will present 60 School Awards for Meritorious Achievement in Literacy and Numeracy at a gala function in Pinelands tonight (Thursday 22 May, 19h00).

Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education, and top WCED officials will present the awards for the first time at a function held to mark the delivery of the 2008/09 Education Budget in the provincial legislature earlier in the day.

The WCED's top priority is the development of literacy and numeracy skills of learners in primary schools. The department has surveyed learner performance every year since 2002, alternating between Grade 3 and 6.

The studies have provided extensive data on the challenges facing literacy and numeracy in the province. The WCED is implementing a comprehensive literacy and numeracy strategy based on the findings of these studies.

In October and November 2007, the WCED assessed the literacy and numeracy skills of 71,874 Grade 6 learners from 1,034 schools in the province.

The studies have shown that our learners are making steady progress in literacy, but still struggle with mathematics.

While the results reflect the challenges we face, they also show that many schools are making progress, often in difficult circumstances.

We have to acknowledge all those responsible this achievement, especially our school principals and teachers who have taken on the challenge and who are making a difference.

We celebrate our successful matrics every year and the high schools they attended. Now it is the turn of our primary schools and combined schools with primary school learners.

The WCED has decided to acknowledge these schools for the first time in 2008 by presenting awards for special achievement in either literacy or numeracy, or in both.

The department will present awards tonight according to criteria based on excellent and progressively consistent performance in Grade 6 tests from 2003 to 2007.

The awards also recognise achievement of schools operating in particular social and economic contexts, according to the quintile in which they are classified.

Education departments classify schools in five categories called quintiles, according to poverty rankings. The poorest schools are in quintile one and the least poor in quintile five.

Award list.

Enquiries:

Paddy Attwell
Director of Communication
Western Cape Education Department
Tel:021 467 7699
Email: pattwell@pgwc.gov.za

Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Cell: 082 550 3938
Fax: 021 425 5689
Email: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

The Western Cape - A Home for All
INtshona Koloni - iKhaya loMntu wonke
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