The Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS II) will be implemented in all technical schools nationally from 2016.
The technical CAPS II is aimed at refocu-sing the role that technical schools can play in equipping young people to get meaningful employment in a fast changing world, filling the huge need for technical scarce skills in the country.
Myburgh says although PW Botha College has been designated as a technical focus school by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), it also features a fully-fledged academic study course. "The infrastructure of the workshops has been upgraded to the value of almost R5-million, redundant machinery was replaced and modern tooling installed. The technical subjects that PW Botha College will be equipped to specialise in will be motor mechanics, fitting and turning, woodworking and electrical, both heavy and light." Myburgh emphasised that PW Botha College is a dual medium school where clas-ses are presented in Afrikaans and English.
As from January 2016 it will be compulsory for Grade 10 pupils who aspire to complete a technical matric, to take maths or technical maths, science and Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD) as subjects. The school college is also equipped with a dedicated EGD lab where the pupils are introduced to Computer Aided Design as part of the new curriculum.
The biggest challenge facing PW Botha College is to uplift the level of academic and technical offering of the school. This will ensure that pupils are educated holistically. "Together with my governing body and teaching corps, we are ready to bring about the necessary changes," said Myburgh. "We will strive for greater academic, cultural and sport success."
Myburgh grew up on a wheat farm in the Moorreesburg area. After finishing primary school locally, he matriculated at Drostdy Technical High School in Worcester in 1978. The youngest of five boys he spent two years in the army and then completed his teaching diploma at the Oudtshoorn Teachers Trai-ning College. After attaining a BA degree at the University of Stellenbosch he started his teaching career at De Rust High School in 1988. His next years were spent at Point High in Mossel Bay. In June 1995 Myburgh was appointed head of department at PW Botha College, where he headed up the geography department.
Ten years later he became deputy principal. Myburgh's appointment as principal of PW Botha College was announced last week, after having acted as such for seven months. In 1985 he married Elsa Faul, who hails from the Northern Province. Elsa is the manager of the NMMU Business School in George. Their children, triplets, a boy and two girls, were pupils at PW where they matriculated in 2008. The two girls are qualified teachers and their son is an engineer in the US.
Myburgh concluded by saying, "There are pupils with technical interests and aptitudes doing academic courses elsewhere, who should in fact be given the opportunity to study at a focus school. Hopefully the introduction of CAPS II will make the difference."
One of his first priorities is to relocate the after school collection area from Union Street onto the school grounds with an entrance via Lang or York Street. He will approach council so that they can request funding via the GIPTN project. "This is to ensure the safety of pupils who are waiting to be collected after school."
The key to success is the building of strong partnerships with both the community and business. Myburgh urges alumni and parents to become involved in taking the school to new heights.
Pieter Myburgh, the newly appointed principal of PW Botha College, and his wife, Elsa, enter the school grounds through a guard of honour formed by the Executive Council of Learners.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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