C Dugmore: Artscape schools festival gala

7 September 2006

Thank you Programme Director

Michael Maas, Chief Executive of Artscape,
Marlene Le Roux, Director of Audience Development and Education,
Michael de Beer, Project Manager of the Schools Arts Festival 2006
Curriculum and Subject Advisors of the Western Cape Education Department
(WCED), Representatives of the various sponsors,
Principals,
Teachers and parents
And above all, I want to greet all our performers

I am sure that tonight must really be a very proud moment for both the
parents, the organisers, the teachers and the learners, when this month-long
cultural festival of dance, song, writing, chorals and drama will culminate in
showcasing the best schools’ performances from among 85 items delivered by 65
schools, performed by over 2 500 learners.

I am looking forward to the display of the talents of our young people. So
Artscape, thanks very much, once again, for inviting me to this occasion, to
share this occasion with you.

Our Premier, Ebrahim Rasool, says we must build the Western Cape into a home
for all. Seeing all of you here, from such a wide variety of our schools, is
exactly what we mean by a home for all.

A home in which all our learners irrespective from which school they come
from and the socio-economic background of the school community can express
themselves in their most innocent ways. By singing and dancing together, we are
actively building this home.

I am saddened when I hear of incidents of violence, behavioural problems,
ill-discipline and late-coming among our learners. Often some of these things
overwhelm the unknown and hidden stars within our schools.

Earlier this year, nineteen schools from the Western Cape participated in
the annual National Championships of the South African Schools Choral
Eisteddfod, formerly known as the Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddfod.

It was held in Randburg during June/July, and is the biggest musical event
for schools organised by the Department of Education. The event formed part of
the celebrations of national events of historical significance.

School choirs and soloists from all nine provinces took the stage to compete
in thirty-one categories of the Eisteddfod. The categories included solo
performances, small ensembles and choral items. The event was attended by the
national Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandor, and several of my other
counterparts.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say that the Western Cape schools
excelled in both the primary and secondary sections of the competition and were
the champions in five categories; obtained six second positions and five third
positions.

Music plays such a key role in developing our learners intellectually,
emotionally and spiritually, and to improving the quality of life in society.
Music also contributes to education and society in general in lots of ways.

It allows us to celebrate; it allows us to rejoice; it unites us; it makes
us aware of important social issues, such as HIV/Aids. So it has an important
role to play in promoting awareness and changing the attitudes of our
learners.

By now I am sure you are well aware of our provincial government’s strategy
to “grow and share the Cape” Ikapa Elihlumayo of which our Human Capital
Development Strategy is a cornerstone.

Music and the arts in education have an important role to play in providing
our learners not only with the necessary skills and knowledge, but also with
healthy value systems and sound attitudes towards life.

Through our Human Capital Development Strategy, we want to ensure that many
more learners acquire knowledge and practical skills to contribute to growing
our economy.

For this reason the WCED has established Arts and Culture Focus Schools in
every Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) to ensure access in
these fields for all communities.

I am fully committed to developing the talents of all our learners. Arts and
culture is one of the learning areas in the National Curriculum Statement, for
both the General and Further Education and Training (FET) bands, which allow us
to do that.

The arts are now firmly part of the mainstream of education, which is a
highly significant development. Our challenge now is how to make the most of
this opportunity, to transform and expand education in the arts.

I have, in my mind, a vision and some sorts of plan on how I see our music
in education strategy evolve, based on six key pillars. First of all, we
already have three existing music centres, which I think needs to be
strengthened.

The Beau Soleil, Hugo Lamprecht and Frank Pietersen music centres all have
proud histories, and they have produced some of the finest musicians in South
Africa. Some of them have performed with orchestras throughout the world.

Secondly, the WCED has thirty-nine dance posts allocated to the Curriculum
Development Directorate. The posts are allocated annually across all EMDC
regions.

These posts form a learning pathway for learners who have an interest or
talent in dance and to prepare them for selecting Dance Studies as a subject in
FET (Grades 10 and 12).

Unfortunately, we do experience a shortage of qualified dance teachers and
arts and culture teachers and there are many career opportunities in the
workplace for learners with a good dance background.

Schools have to apply annually to be allocated a dance teacher. Currently
posts are shared between primary schools to allow as many learners as possible
to benefit from this special privilege.

High Schools, however, receive a full-time post so that the dance teachers
can prepare the Grade 8 and 9 learners in a dance specific learning pathway in
arts and culture, to prepare them for taking dance as a subject from Grades 10
and 12.

I do however think that our strategy must look at the possible employment of
more itinerant music teachers at EMDC level, to move to various schools.

A third pillar of my strategy would be that we must strengthen our support
for our nine Arts and Culture Focus Schools, making sure that the music
learning area is linked to economic opportunity.

Our music centres and focus schools also make it possible for schools to
outsource music training where they may not have the resources to provide this
training themselves.

Fourthly, all our high schools now have computer labs. I want to suggest
that we look at installing appropriate music software, to provide our learners
with digital composition and editing skills.

Fifthly, I think we need some sort of an institute for contemporary music,
linked with one of our FET colleges in Cape Town, with perhaps a second one in
the rural areas, perhaps in George, linked with the Southern Cape College.

Judging from the various comments from teachers, it is clear to me that this
year’s School Arts Festival is a huge success, and continues to grow from
strength to strength. I just want to share some of the quotes from the brochure
produced by Artscape, which I think captures the essence of everything we value
in this.

Teacher Eric Steyn from Belhar Primary School, says as a focus school, they
now have access to sound equipment and a studio. “Most of the learners hope to
continue and become professionals and a programme like Artscape’s festival is
the perfect stepping stone.”

Teachers Kelly Shikwambana and Pamela Mtati from the Community Development
Worker (CDW) Dance Project in Athlone, have participated in this festival over
the past three years. “The Schools Arts Festival is a huge adventure for our
pupils. These pupils come from squatter camps and totally disadvantaged
backgrounds. Just being able to perform is seen as a blessing, an important
opportunity to showcase their talent.”

Nicely Gogi, from the Diazville Primary School in Saldanha Bay, says
although their group has been performing together for almost five years now,
this was their first experience at the Schools Arts Festival. “We all felt a
sense of empowerment, equality and freedom at having the opportunity to perform
in a professional setting.”

And then lastly, Bianca Baxter, of Bianca’s School of Ballet in Wellington,
says, “The pupils are highly motivated by the Schools Arts Festival. They
perform regularly at concerts and shows, but the students all agree that this
festival is a completely different experience for them. It makes us feel like
professionals and inspires us.”

I must say, that even though our schools have access to resources in varying
degrees, judging by the comments from some of the participants, I am extremely
proud of the work done by all of the instructors, teachers and those who give
support.

Thank you to Michael Maas, Marlene Le Roux and Michael de Beer, the team at
Artscape who, I’m sure, must be pretty tired but pleased. A big thanks too, to
our sponsors, who continue to support our endeavours to realise the full
potential of our learners in the arts.

To the learners who are performing tonight, I want to say to you: you
provide hope for many learners and teachers, as well as communities who
struggle with the challenges of poverty and crime every day. You are showing
them a way out.

To all the parents who may not always have enough money to give; the
teachers who are putting in long hours; the learners who are willing to
sacrifice; Thank you for making all of us proud, you are a true example to the
rest of the Western Cape and South Africa.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
7 September 2006