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24 July 2008

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore today, Thursday, 24 July welcomed an opportunity to meet with the Joint Refugee Leadership Committee of the Western Cape as the representatives of communities displaced by attacks on foreign nationals.

MEC Dugmore, together with Deputy Director-General for Institutional Development and Co-ordination Sindi Lingela and Communications Director Paddy Attwell briefed the leadership representatives on the department's strategy to support learners and provide education.

MEC Dugmore explained that the department deployed senior managers and district officials to more than 50 sites to identify children of school-going age needing special support. "The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) worked with local schools, volunteers and donors to provide this support. The support was generally short-term and ad hoc, given immediate needs and the uncertain future of the sites.

"The WCED found very few children of school-going age in the sites. Most of the displaced children were pre-schoolers. There were about 99 children of school-going age in the sites at the end of June."

However the group informed the MEC that there are still some learners not receiving schooling, and the department will follow this up. They have also requested information on adult education and bursaries, which the department will provide.

The Joint Refugee Leadership Committee expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage with the senior leadership of WCED, and said they looked forward to continuing this relationship.

For comment on behalf of the Joint Refugee Leadership Committee, contact:
Scot Dunlop
Cell: 083 266 7302

For enquiries, contact:
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699

Gert Witbooi:
Cell: 082 528 8278

Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
24 July 2008
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za/)