Computers will broaden horizons
2006-06-08
David Joshua
WELLINGTON Secondary in Davids Avenue, Wellington, opened a brand new computer room, fitted with 25 computers, recently.
The official opening was done by Western Cape MEC for education, Cameron Dugmore.
Other educational officials present were Winelands EMDC director Jannie Beukes, chief circuit manager Freddie Claasen and circuit manager Hendriena Rossouw.
Mayor Charmaine Manuel also attended. She told learners to master computers to show others who is boss.
“Computers broaden your horizon. If you can master working with computers, it will motivate you to take on new challenges,” said Dugmore in addressing the learners.
“This is an instrument to set you free from the cycle of poverty.”
Thanking everyone that played a pivotal role in the successful launch of the computer centre, Dugmore indicated why the Khanya
Technology-in-Education-Project was identified as being of high priority in historically disadvantaged communities.
He also referred to his recent budget speech where he announced the R228,1 million that will be spent to erradicate infrastructure backlog and to upgrade schools.
Wellington Secondary started in 2003 with just 60 learners and three educators, including the then principal Thomas Davids. Current principal Nazeem Dalvey, was appointed in 2005.
“The school serves a poor community, where learners come from various informal settlements and farms and where the unemployment rate is very high. This meant that almost all of the learners don’t have any technological equipment at home so they produce work of a high quality,” Dalvey stated.
Over the past three years the school grew to a number of 429 learners and 13 educators, one admin clerk and one janitor.
Khanya, the IT arm of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), became involved at the end of 2005, where their involvement culminated in the opening of the school’s own computer room.
Learners are very excited about their new computer lab, because some never even touched a computer before.
“I specially enjoy the maths programme, for I can see that it will be to my advantage. I am beginning to understand some of these maths jargon better” says grade 8 learner Zolani Bongo.
Smiling at his remarks, LAN (Local Access Network) computer Administrator Shahieda Salie says, “We expect that these computers will equip learners with more skills and improve their mathematical abilities and language usage.”
Principal Nazeem Dalvey also stated that the building plans for the school are finalised and that the building project will hopefully start by the end of the year.
“One of the benefits that will accrue from this computer project is that our learners and parents will become computer literate and hopefully it will decrease the high unemployment rate amongst our parents,” he concluded.
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