launch of the Western Cape Representative Council of Learners
15 June 2006
I believe the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) leadership can play a
critical role in our schools, in conjunction with government, in addressing
such issues as learners rights and responsibilities, discipline, diversity,
substance abuse, gangsterism and HIV and AIDS, to mention just a few.
Thirty years after the uprising of the students of Soweto, the greatest
challenge our youth continue to face, is to equip themselves with relevant
skills, knowledge and values, to enable them to participate meaningfully in the
economy.
That is why government has introduced the new Further Education and Training
(FET) curriculum, establishing focus schools in Arts & Culture; Business,
Commerce and Management; and Engineering and Technology. This will provide
learners with quality subjects that were not previously available to many
disadvantaged communities.
We are focusing on developing skills needed to meet the objectives of our
Micro Economic Development Strategy, by increasing numbers in our FET colleges,
while also encouraging learners to enter Higher Education, especially those
planning to study maths, science and technology.
Our country needs to produce at least 13 000 engineers per year, but
produces just above 3 000; we need to fill about half-a-million vacancies in
the sectors of communication and information technology, engineering and
financial services, but it cannot be filled.
Consider the fact that we are hosting the Soccer World Cup in 2010, and it
is clear that the challenges and opportunities for our young people have never
been so great.
The problem is that too few of our learners enter higher education with
maths and science, thus too few opt for career paths critical to our economy.
Half of the roughly 80 000 learners who enter grade one does not make it to
grade 12.
I want to encourage more and more of you to take maths and science, and to
say not to gangsterism and crime; alcohol and drugs; and risky sexual
behaviour.
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
15 June 2006
