GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Between 40 and 50 Eden municipal learnerships have been made available to schools in George and the district.
Eden mayor Faried Stemmet made this announcement while visiting schools to inspire the 2010 Grade 12s and to wish them well for the final exams.

Stemmet promised George High in Rosemoor five municipal learnerships during 2011 and said this could put the successful applicants on the road to a rewarding career in a state department.
Other schools who will send five of their matriculants to Eden in the hope of a municipal career are York High, Parkdene Secondary, Imizamo Yethu Secondary in Thembalethu, Outeniqua High School and Ladysmith High. Another four schools in the other local municipal areas will still be identified.

Stemmet said the learnerships will hopefully become part of an ongoing work and skills creation programme that was born from the recent education summit held in Pacaltsdorp. The plan is to expand the scheme to include all schools in the region and to select different participating schools on an annual basis.
Stemmet said it was up to each school to decide how they would award the learnerships and which of the learners should qualify.

During his address at George High, Stemmet, a practicing advocate and also vice-president of the SWD rugby union, asked the matrics to never forget their roots, but to remember that they can rise above anything in life. "Each and everyone can make a success. I come from Manenberg, gangster country, but I never allowed my humble beginnings to hold me back."
Stemmet told the group that the reward is always equal to the effort. "Don’t throw the effort of these last twelve years away. It is not too late. If you really work hard and give it everything, you can all perform to the best of your ability."

ARTICLE: ILSE SCHOONRAAD


The matric class from Imizamo Yethu Secondary in Tembalethu gave the mayor a warm welcome. Photo: Herman Pieters


The matric teachers line up on stage as mayor Stemmet (far left) praised them for their dedication and hard work. Next to him is his PA Beryl Flanagan and the teachers are from the left André Jansen, Collin Hoogbaard, Valda Rothman, Verena Marx, Nicole Lewis, Patty Petersen and Sheryl Daniels. Photo: Herman Pieters