C Dowry: Hector Petersen High School visit

17 January 2007

Theme: We are proud, but Western Cape schools can and must do better

Mr Witbooi, Deputy Principal
Teachers and Staff
Learners of Hector Petersen

I know you are eager to commence with your school year and will therefore
not take too long. The year 2006 ended on a high note, we are proud of the
overall results of Western Cape schools but it remains clear that we can and
must do better. Of the 39 832 learners who correctly wrote the full examination
in 2006, 33 316 learners passed. This represents an overall percentage pass of
83,7%.

Although this is slightly down from the figure of 84,4% last year, it is
pleasing to note that, in real terms, 1 238 more candidates wrote the full exam
and 743 more learners passed. This increase in numbers, plus generally
consistent performances overall, bodes well for the future.

But passing a matric these days is not enough; we want you, the learners, to
further your studies in higher education institutions or Further Education and
Training (FET) colleges. Last year, 10 589 learners passed the Senior
Certificate with endorsement, which is 195 more learners than last year, which
means more qualify for entrance to University.

Other notable increases in the 2006 exam include: 79 more learners wrote
Maths Higher Grade; of the 4 741 candidates who wrote Science on the Higher
Grade, 4 053 passed; this is 688 more learners than in 2005.

Let my also congratulate Hector Petersen's learners and teachers; last year
you achieved an 81 percent matric pass rate. This is exceptional and you must
get all the credit for this high standard. Through endurance, perseverance and
determination you made us proud. You are also setting a fine example as the
grade 12 class (174 altogether have) started with your matric year on Monday
last week already.

This exceptional pass rate is a fitting commemoration of Hector Petersen,
who died tragically during the Soweto uprisings of 1976. During these uprisings
the youth of this country stood up against the oppressive education system that
denied them the freedom of choice and the freedom to be educated in their
mother tongue, and they stood up against the system of apartheid itself. They
said to the oppressors and the world that they were prepared to liberate
themselves even if they had to pay the price by risking their lives and indeed
there were those who paid with their lives.

They took these actions because they believed in the vision and the
objectives of the Freedom Charter that "the doors of learning and culture shall
be opened." With your fine example of learning you have shown that you are
eager to learn and that you are ready to confront the world with a solid
education behind you.

After 30 years, the learners at this school took a conscious decision to
take stock, to take control of their lives and to improve their circumstances
and once more to empower themselves. The wonderful thing about this new process
is that, it does not have to happen with violence and bloodshed. Today your
fight is not against the oppressors and a government that has no regard for
human dignity. Your battle is against unemployment; drug abuse and crime; low
levels of education and high levels of HIV and AIDS, to name but a few.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED), under the leadership of our
Colleague MEC Cameron Dugmore, and with the support of all MECs and the
provincial government generally, will be introducing six clear
interventions:

1. Embark on the quality improvement, development, support and upliftment
programme (Quids-Up) programme

This initiative, led by Minister Pandor, aims to allocate new learning
resources to schools, especially in poor and disadvantaged communities.

2. Set targets

MEC Dugmore has indicated that by the end of February this year, each high
school must set an overall pass target, a Matric Endorsement target and
Maths/Science targets for 2007. These targets must be formally signed off by
the School Governing Body, including the RCL representatives.

3. Broaden our base: work on literacy and numeracy across the board

What is also very clear is that we cannot just look for weaknesses in our
high schools. The department will intensify work in our primary schools as
well.

4. Make our schools a safe learning home for all

One of the issues that have impacted severely on our schools this year and
previous years is the levels of violence in and around our schools, and the
aggressive behaviour of learners. The Western Cape Education Department has
planned and will implement an unprecedented inter-sectoral campaign, to build a
safe learning home, for 2007 and beyond. This is a priority for the Cabinet
Social Cluster Committee.

5. Tackle the situation in the 34 schools still performing below 60%

On the 2006 results 8% of our high schools lie below the mark of 60%, but
there are many more that are under-performing and not securing endorsements.
The time has come to say that continued under-performance will simply not be
tolerated. MEC Dugmore has promised he will conduct a full contextual analysis
of each under-performing school by the end of January this year.

To the matriculants of 2007:

Far too many of our learners think that just "getting a matric" is the
biggest target they can see. Far too many of our learners do not have real
plans to take them beyond matric. You might get that paper at the end of the
year, but the year thereafter you may find there is no job; and the day after
many of our youngster have no hope.

Unlike in the past, there are many options to you as young people who will
be writing matric at the end of this year:

* you can enter university if you have an endorsement, or a university of
technology
* you can enter an FET college for a vocational career; e.g. Agriculture
* you can apply for learnerships in government departments or parastatals
* there are bursaries and loans available to those who want to further their
studies, information available at the institution of your choice.

Wherever I go, I encourage young people to consider a career in agriculture.
Many young people still see agriculture as a white dominated industry with
people ploughing lands working with soil etc. No! It is much more than this. We
have agricultural economists, engineers, researchers, veterinarians, auditors,
human resources, agricultural extension officers. You can also train at our
college at Elsenburg, not far from here and I want to invite you today to take
this year to consider an agricultural career.

In the Department of Agriculture we are also ready to face up to the
challenges in order to assist you as the youth in your search towards a better
life and full participation in the economy of the country. I have been informed
that you have a food security project at the school and I will together with my
staff from the department and you agricultural educators inspect the tunnels
and to see what my department can do in order to assist with food security.

I want to thank you for your patience. Let 2007 be a bumper year for Hector
Petersen, its learners and teachers, and let us continue on the excellent
example the matrics of 2006 has set.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
17 January 2007