This week will see important developments in education, which seek to build the Western Cape as a Learning Home for All our children.

On Monday evening (30 August, 6pm, Frank Pietersen Music Centre), Education MEC Cameron Dugmore, will hand over several music instruments to the Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Paarl.

The centre was established in 1994 by the late Mr Frank Pietersen in his garage at home, to offer tuition to children who were denied access to formal music learning, because this was not a subject offered in their schools at the time.

The school started with 55 learners and today has more than 600 learners with seven educators. In addition, there is a waiting list of more than 500 learners, which the centre cannot provide for due to a shortage of instruments.

To this end, MEC Dugmore has approached various artists for donations. Tonight the school will host a function at which the MEC will formally hand over the instruments.

Tomorrow evening (Tuesday 31 August, 6pm, Rietpoort) Premier Ebrahim Rasool and MEC Dugmore will attend the electricity switching on ceremony of the St. Boniface Primary School in Rietpoort, about 160km from Vredendal on the West Coast.

Similarly, on Thursday 2 September, the MEC will attend another electricity switching on ceremony at the Rhebosfontein Primary School in Darling.

Electrifying at least six of the remaining twelve schools without power, is one of the "100 days deposits" which Premier Rasool has expressed as the government's tangible signal of its direction over the next five years.

Switching on the electricity at Rhebosfontein will bring to nine the number of schools with power. Two schools operate on solar power and one with a diesel generator.

Another important delivery will be to move the Usasazo High School from Maitland to Khayelitsha, making it unnecessary for more than 1,000 learners to leave home at 05h00 and travel far distances to attend school.

On Thursday 2 September the Premier and MEC will attend the opening ceremony of the school in Khayelitsha, 15h30.

This clearly demonstrates that this is a responsive and caring government, with a clear vision and strategy in pursuit of a better life for all its people.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 577 6551, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.

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

The Western Cape - A Home for All
INtshona Koloni - iKhaya loMntu wonke
Die Wes-Kaap - 'n Tuiste vir Almal