7 September 2006
Deputy Minister of Education Enver Surty will visit two Dinaledi schools in
the Western Cape tomorrow (Friday, 8 September 2006) with Western Cape MEC for
Education Cameron Dugmore, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der
Merwe, in her capacity as Member of Parliament for the Mowbray
constituency.
The schools and times for the visits are:
1. Thandokhulu Secondary School, corner Main and Albert Roads, Mowbray,
07h30
2. Luhlaza High School, Makabeni Road, Khayelitsha, 12h00
The schools are participating in the national Dinaledi programme, which
seeks to increase the number of learners from poor communities who pass matric
in Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST). Deputy Minister Surty and MEC
Dugmore will tour the schools and discuss progress with school management and
teachers. The national and Western Cape education departments have increased
the number of schools participating in the programme in the Western Cape over
the past year from 10 to 50.
The term "dinaledi" is a Sotho word for stars. The vision of this project is
to produce "tomorrow�s stars today". The aims of the Dinaledi Project are:
* to increase the number of learners studying MST subjects in Grades 10 to
12
* to increase the number learners studying these subjects on the Higher Grade,
especially girls and formerly disadvantaged learners
* to increase the pass rate and achievement in mathematics and science in these
grades
* to develop the capacity of the mathematics and physical science teachers.
Dinaledi schools are receiving the following support in the Western
Cape:
* mathematics and science equipment
* a well resourced computer centre provided and supported by the Western Cape
Education Department's (WCED) Khanya Technology in Education Project
* management and teacher training and support, provided by Khanya and other
initiatives
* winter schools for Grade 12 learners in mathematics and physical
science
* career guidance for learners, emphasising careers requiring mathematics and
physical science
* science clubs are being encouraged at schools to inculcate a love and wonder
for the sciences
* officials of the WCED Head Office and the district Education Management and
Development Centres are supporting and monitoring the progress of the
project.
* various programmes organised in conjunction with local and international
partners.
The national and provincial education departments identified 102 schools
across the country in 2001 for special support. The departments agreed to
expand the number of schools receiving this support last year to 400. Of these,
40 are in the Western Cape. The provincial cabinet agreed to provide the same
support to 10 more schools in the Western Cape, bringing the total number of
MST focus schools in the province to 50.
Special interventions at Thandokhulu and Luhlaza this year include the
following:
* a 10 day residential, professional development course for teachers at
Stellenbosch University for teachers in July, provided by the African Institute
for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC)
* participation in the Science, Engineering and Technology Week at the MTN
Science Centre in May
* Teacher�s Pack of science equipment, provided by the Department of Education
(DoE)
* providing a compact disc of mathematics exercises for Grades 8 and 9
* a special programme for Grade 8 to consolidate mathematical concepts
* R10,000,00 additional funding for learning and teaching support
materials
* the Department of Education donated 100 calculators to Grade 12
learners
* learners in Grades 10 and 11 in Dinaledi schools wrote common examinations in
November 2005, while learners in Grade 12 will write common examinations in
September 2006
* a teacher and four Grade 12 learners attended Energy Week during the April
holiday. The week was an initiative of the Department of Minerals and Energy,
as part of the department�s career awareness programme.
The University of Cape Town's (UCT) Graduate School of Business ran a
programme called "Second Chance Mathematics" for Grades 8 and 9 learners at
Luhlaza in April that taught strategies for overcoming fear of mathematics.
Enquiries
Aswhin Syme
Cell: 073 232 5908
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
7 September 2006
