Education
- (a) How many schools of skills exist in the province, (b) who is responsible for the funding of these schools, (c) what is the budget, (d) how many learners benefit per annum, (e) what are the top 10 skills offered at these schools and (f) how many job opportunities are created at the schools or for the private market;
- whether the curriculum fits in with the mainstream school curriculum; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
2. [1] [a] There are twenty [20] dedicated Schools of Skills in the Western Cape with an additional four [4] Public Special Schools offering the school of skills stream.
[b] The Western Cape Education Department [WCED].
[c] The WCED has allocated an amount of R39 032 131 for Norms and Standards.
[d] There are currently 8 584 learners enrolled in schools of skills.
[e] Welding; Hospitality Studies; Hairdressing; Office Administration; Woodworking; Motor Mechanics; Spray Painting and Panel Beating; Mixed Farming and Maintenance.
[f] All learners are exposed to the workplace in their fourth year. The transition from school to the world of work has an 80% success rate.
[2] The new school of skills curriculum is currently being piloted and is adapted from the National Curriculum Statement and aligned to the NCS CAPS. Umalusi accreditation at exit level - NQF level 1/grade 9 equivalent- has been applied for.
The alignment means that learners will be able to transition to an ordinary school or TVET college. It would also mean that the courses could be offered within a mainstream public ordinary high school. The skills subjects offered are SAQA aligned and meet the respective SETA / Industry requirement.
