I want to commend the Board of the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod for organising this annual prestigious event for primary and secondary schools in the greater peninsula and remote rural areas.

What we are experiencing tonight is the result of dedicated teaching that takes part of school during and after hours. It is the result of concentrated and consistent rehearsals conducted by various teams of dedicated educators who we are privileged to have in our schools in the Western Cape.

U as ouers het ook onbaatsigtelik bygedra tot die handhawing van hierdie uitsonderlike artistieke standaard van werk wat hier gelewer word. Deur u toedoen het ons leerders betyds by oefeninge opgedaag. Tuis het u ook gesorg dat hulle elke musikale of poëtiese frase sorgvuldig oefen.

Vanaand is die hoogtepunt van maande se harde werk. U het deur die uitdunrondes tot vanaand se eindronde gevorder. Dit in sigself is 'n groot prestasie waarop u as prinsipaal, opvoeder, ouer en leerder trots behoort te wees.

The WCED is working hard to make the subject accessible to all learners in the province despite budgetary constraints. More than fifty secondary schools are offering Speech and Drama as a subject in the FET band.

Further more, the Department is funding thirty-nine additional posts for the teaching of dance in primary and secondary schools.

We have seven arts centres and three well resourced music centres with highly qualified staff in the Western Cape. These centres focus on specialised training in music and visual arts.

The National Curriculum Statement for FET Schools will be implemented in 2006. As part of the implementation strategy the WCED will establish Focus Schools for the Arts in each of the seven educational districts. These Focus Schools for the Art will make the study of music, dance, dramatic and visual arts accessible to school communities in disadvantaged areas.

The Western Cape Education Department is an active partner in the formalisation and organisation of eisteddfods and festivals for school choirs. One of our projects is The Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddfod which is a joint venture by the Department of Education and First National Bank.

The Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddfod is a project identified as essential in the implementation of the Protocol for the Organisation, Management, Co-ordination and Monitoring of School Music Competitions and Festivals in South Africa for Public Schools published by the national Minister of Education. This protocol for school music events provides the framework for all school music events.

The eisteddfod is organized on district-, provincial- and national level. This year more than One Hundred and Twenty schools took part in the district level of the eisteddfod. Eighteen schools represented the Western Cape at the National Championships held in Randburg during the June vacation.

I appeal to all schools in the province to show greater involvement in this eisteddfod. I am aware that this province has some of the best choirs locally and internationally. For example, the choir of Stellenberg High School was awarded a gold medal at the recent choir Olympics in Bremen.

One may ask the question: Why do we spend so much time, energy and money on the promotion of the arts in our schools, communities and homes?

Our young people often use the arts to express their feelings such as joy and sorrow. As a nation we have used music, dance, drama and visual arts in the struggle to liberate ourselves from the darkness of Apartheid through our freedom songs and toyi-toyi.

And although I was on the receiving end, just last week I saw teachers dancing and toyi-toying, and in doing so they expressed themselves on a particular matter.

We have come to realise that the universal language of the arts enables us to unite us as a nation and to bring people of a diversity of language and heritage together. Through the arts we shape, sustain and enshrine our diverse South African culture and heritage.

We are employing the arts to address social issues such as HIV/Aids, child abuse, cruelty and drug abuse that are threatening the lives of our young people in our suburbs, townships or rural towns.

Arts and drama are an indispensable means of improving the social fabric of our society, and can make a very real contribution to education - both explicit and subliminal around social issues.

The arts have an important role to play in promoting awareness and changing the attitudes of our learners.

Just about two weeks ago I was introduced to a drama workshop, which aims to create awareness of social issues such as HIV/Aids, among youth at risk. This drama is interactive, and is being presented to certain schools.

This government is committed to building the Western Cape as a Home for All. Our strategy, which we have developed to take us to that vision, we refer to as Ikapa Elihlumayo. As MEC for Education, I am determined to build the province into a Learning Home for All our Children.

We must be honest in our creation of the arts, the teaching and the learning of the arts. Our art works must always serve our people and our country.

If your creativity plays a considerable role in the lives of only a few individuals, or a trivial role in the lives of the majority, it has no place in the world of education.

If on the contrary, your work of art does want to play a considerable role and form an essential part in the lives of all South Africans, then we will ensure that the arts receive the proper place in the curriculum.

Once again, congratulations to all and enjoy the evening.

Thank you