Principal Mr S Dogh and staff
Ms M Jones, Chairperson of the SGB and others
Officials from the EMDC Southern Cape
Ms C Barkhuizen and other Officials from Khanya
Past MC Combi and other community leaders
Teachers, parents and learners
Ladies and Gentlemen
Baie dankie vir die uitnodiging om hierdie geleentheid met u te vier. Dit is altyd 'n plesier om geleenthede by te woon, wat ten doel het om 'n beter toekoms vir ons kinders te verseker.
Hartlik geluk met die rekenaarsentrum. Maar ek wil vir u sê, ons het nie die rekenaars hier geplaas net sodat die skool moet goed lyk nie. Hierdie rekenaar sentrum is deel van 'n groter plan om ons land se ekonomie te groei, en om armoede te beveg.
Ons President Thabo Mbeki het gesê ons land het 'n era van hoop betree. Premier Ebrahim Rasool sê ons provinsie is op die drumpel van vooruitgang, maar ons moet nou vinniger beweeg om seker te maak dat ekonomiese groei versnel en veral voorheen benadeelde gemeenskappe bevoordeel.
Dit is hoekom ons Khanya Tegnologie-in-Onderwys-Projek die afgelope jare die installering van rekenaars in histories agtergeblewe gemeenskappe as 'n prioriteit identifiseer het.
Dié inisiatief van ons Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement (WKOD) om "e-onderrig" of "e-leer" te gebruik om onderwys in ons provinsie te bevorder, is belangrik om leer en onderrig te verbeter. Per slot van rekening, dit gaan oor die ontwikkeling van ons kinders.
Met hierdie projek wil ons seker maak dat ons kinders 'n gelyke kans kry om hul volle potensiaal te bereik. Ons wil seker maak ons kinders het 'n kans om nie net 'n plaaswerker te bly nie, maar om self plase te besit en te bestuur.
Dié inisiatief is deel van ons visie om die Wes-Kaap as 'n Tuiste vir Almal te bou. Dié inisiatief is deel van Ikapa Elihlumayo, ons regering se ekonomiese ontwikkelingsplan - om die Kaap te groei en te deel.
We must use the technology to focus attention on the improvement of academic performance and expose our kids to computers and Information Technology.
Our National e-education white paper has two main objectives, i.e. that all our 12 million learners in the country will be ICT capable by 2010; and that all our 28,000 schools countrywide must transform into e-Schools by 2010.
The power of technology should be used to enhance the quality of the learning experience in the classroom. This should assist in improving the learner outcomes in all grades in terms of the number of passes and quality of results.
If we want to build this province as a Home for All, we must ensure that all our youth are equipped to deal with the demands of the new economy. In line with our objectives of our Human Capital Development Strategy, I am happy that that not a single high school is now without a computer lab. We are now going to roll-out to primary schools.
I have made Literacy and Numeracy my number one priority, to ensure that our learners can read, write and calculate at appropriate levels required of them from the curriculum. We need to ensure that every learner have a solid foundation.
With the launch of our Literacy-Numeracy Strategy, we said "Each One Teach One: Together Building A Learning Home For All / Elkeen Leer Iemand - Saam Bou Ons 'n Leertuiste Vir Almal / Omnye Ufundisa Omnye - Sakha Kunye Ikhaya Lokufunda Lomntu Wonke?
The reason for this is simple, while our teachers are the principal deliverers of the curricuIum, I firmly believe that those of us outside of the classroom, especially our parents, also have a role to play.
We must ask what are the literacy levels in our learners' homes? Do their parents read? Can their parents read? Is there anything to read?
If we want to build the Western Cape as a Home for All, it must be owned and shared by all of its citizens. I therefore want to pay tribute and offer a special word of thanks to all the volunteers and the Ratepayers Association involved in this school.
You are a community that work together and care for our kids. All the retired professionals, all the volunteers, those who look after the needs of our kids, all of you - you make us proud.
You epitomizes the Premier's vision of the building of a Learning Home for All and are truly an inspiration to me certainly, and to many more in the province.
I salute you and pledge my full support for all your ongoing efforts in giving each and every one of our youngsters an equal chance in life. I'm really very, very proud of your commitment and example.
Aan ons kinders: julle is baie bevoorreg dat soveel mense vir julle omgee. Bewys vir ons julle waardeer dit en dat julle almal na die hoërskool toe moet gaan.
Ouers, julle weet ook natuurlik dat by hierdie skool, julle nie skoolfooie hoef te betaal nie, want ons as die regering het gesê, dit is nie nodig nie. Dit beteken die ouers en die skool hoef nie oor skoolgeld te bekommer nie. Die skool kan dus nou meer konsentreer daarop op die leer van lees en skryf vir ons kinders.
Thank you very much...
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
