WCED Archives - Voice of the Cape

WCED wishes matriculants learners well ahead of the exams

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) called on the public to respect matric learners who are set to undertake their final matric examinations next week. The National Senior Certificate exams are set to commence on Monday, 21 October 2024, with 66 988 candidates writing English Home Language, First Additional Language, or Second Additional Language in the morning sitting. In total, 123 examination papers will be written […]

15 October 2024

Local

WCED urges parents to apply for the 2025 academic year, before the end of 2024

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert With less than two months before the 2024 academic year ends, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is urging parents to register their children to avoid disappointment. Speaking on VOC Breakfast, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department has seen an increase in Grade 8 applications compared to previous years. “We have 95 000 Grade 8 applications for next year, 24 000 applications for Grade 1 […]

8 October 2024

Local

More stringent action should be taken against overloaded taxi drivers- community activist

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert The death of a 14-year-old girl has sparked conversation around more stringent traffic laws to be implemented. Further to this, how the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) should relook current admissions policies. On Friday morning, the teenaged girl was killed after a scholar transport taxi driver lost control of its vehicle on Swartklip Road, Mitchells Plain. Information indicated that 28 others were injured and taken to […]

4 October 2024

Local

Grade R admission appeals for 2025, open on 1 October

By Lee-Yandra Paulsen Parents who wish to appeal their child's Grade R admissions for 2025 are encouraged to do so starting on October 1st, 2024. Many parents have raised concerns about their children not being accepted into schools or being placed in schools far from their designated feeder zones. Speaking on VOC Breakfast, Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond explained the process for appealing rejected applications. “If your […]

30 September 2024

Local

WCED backs Ramaphosa’s decision to halt two clauses in BELA Act

By Ragheema Mclean The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has voiced its support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to delay the implementation of two contentious clauses in the newly enacted Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. Signed into law on Friday, the BELA Act introduces significant changes to the South African education system, including compulsory Grade R, stricter homeschooling regulations, and reinforced language policy fairness. The delay applies to clauses […]

16 September 2024

Local

Education expert says WC budget cuts are a social justice problem

By Ragheema Mclean The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that the province will lose around 2,400 teaching posts starting January next year, all due to severe budget shortfalls totaling R3.8 billion. The announcement has sparked significant concern among education unions, experts, and the public, including parents. MEC David Maynier stressed that while some contract teachers will not be reappointed and some permanent staff may be relocated to schools […]

4 September 2024

Local

Education expert says WC’s education cannot afford slashing 2000 teachers

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert As the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) plans to do away with more than 2000 teachers at the end of the 2024 academic year, many are left anxious and concerned about what the education landscape will look like in the future. Speaking on VOC Breakfast, Aslam Fataar, Professor in the Department of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University and currently a Research & Development Professor attached […]

3 September 2024

Local

Budget cuts in the WCED places educational sector in crisis- says PEESA

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced the cut of over 2400 teaching positions from next year due to a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion over the next three years. According to department head Brent Walters, the department is responsible for covering the remaining 64% of the public sector compensation agreement's cost. The department has already put a hold on hiring non-teaching employees and on expenditure […]

29 August 2024

News

WCED encourages parents to register children for the 2025 academic year

By Loushe Jordaan Gilbert Western Cape parents who wish to apply for Grade R can still do so, until the end of August 2024. Speaking to VOC Breakfast on Wednesday, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said although the on-time application window closed on 16 August 2024, parents who wish to register learners for Grade R can do so until the end of August 2024. “We received […]

21 August 2024

WCED

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