Dugmore, at the inauguration of Khanya Lab, Sadgefield
28 July 2006
Honourable Mayor, Dr Joy Cole
Principal, Mr S Dogh and staff
Ms M Jones, Chairperson of the Standards Generating Body (SGB) and others
Officials from the Education Management and Development Centre (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 s�, 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 ges� ons land het 'n era van hoop betree.
Premier Ebrahim Rasool s� 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.
Di� 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.
Di� inisiatief is deel van ons visie om die Wes-Kaap as 'n Tuiste vir Almal
te bou. Di� 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
(IT).
Our national e-education white paper has two main objectives, i.e. that all
our 12 million learners in the country will be Information and Communications
Technology (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 has 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 curriculum; I firmly believe that those of us outside of the
classroom, especially our parents, also have a role to play.
We must ask what the literacy levels in our learners' homes are. 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 Ratepayer's 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 epitomises 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 ho�rskool 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 ges�, 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
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Issued by: Western Cape Provincial Government
28 July 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
