Premier Alan Winde and MEC Debbie Schäfer launches Struisbaai Primary Skills Facility building

• Published date: 09 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

Today, the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, and the Provincial Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer, launched the Struisbaai Primary Skills Facility building, which is linked to the Western Cape Government's priority of providing technical and vocational skills learning opportunities to learners.

The facility is an extension of Struisbaai Primary School and will cater for two new skills subjects which include civil maintenance and food production. The civil maintenance component will include welding, metalwork, woodwork, plumbing, electrical work, motor mechanics, glasswork, and building, whereas food production will focus on hospitality. This has been made possible through a collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), totalling R36 million.

The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde said: 'The opening of this facility is aligned with our province's commitment to skills education. This is critical in ensuring that all of our learners have an opportunity to develop the skills they need to participate meaningfully in our economy.'

The launch was further attended by Cape Agulhas Mayor Paul Swart, the WCED's Superintendent-General, Mr Brent Walters, Chief Director of Districts, Mr Alan Meyer, Acting Director of the Overberg Education District, Mr Lance Abrahams, and Mr Andre Lamprecht, who heads up the WCED's Collaboration Schools unit. During the launch, the ribbon was cut by Struisbaai's well-known retired teacher, Mrs Katy Hammer.

This model is aimed at developing not only practical skills but also soft skills like value-based leadership, for a successful life. This is a pilot project, that can be rolled out in many communities in the Western Cape to equip learners with employable and economically viable skills.

Before the establishment of the new facility, 27 learners started the skills schooling at Onse Hoop community centre in January 2022 and have since moved to the new facility...