The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) continues to invest heavily in teacher development, said MEC Cameron Dugmore at the annual provincial teaching awards ceremony on Friday evening (14 September) in Cape Town.

Said MEC Dugmore: "Our Teaching Assistant initiative is attracting great support across the country and has received favourable reports from independent assessors.

"Four-hundred-and-twenty members of the first intake of Teaching Assistants are enrolled for Year Two of a Certificate in Education and 90 new ones are enrolled in Year One.

"Last week we awarded 50 bursaries to assistants to complete their second year of study and we have secured 20 bursaries, via the ETDP SETA, for Teaching Assistants who want to tackle full time study.

"The WCED Teacher Bursary Programme has 97 bursars of whom 34 complete their studies this year. And 107 of the 420 Funza Lushaka bursars also qualify this year.

"The adjusted salary scales we have been anticipating for so long are under final discussion at a national level and we look forward to exciting progress in this regard once settlement has been reached.

"We continue to invest heavily in our valuable Employee Wellness Programme which offers, amongst other things, a toll-free, 24-hour telephone counseling service. The service provides expert counseling and advice on a wide range of issues relating to mental, emotional, physical, financial and legal help for our employees. Qualified, experienced counselors provide the service.

"Our Cape Teaching Institute provides residential courses not only for teachers but also, increasingly, for HODs and school principals."

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For Enquiries:

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
Die Wes-Kaap - 'n Tuiste vir Almal