GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Moll is the only member of Sapa's executive committee who is from the Southern Cape and not Cape Town, and is also the head of York High School in George. He paints an informative philosophic picture.
"The Western Cape is experiencing massive influx of new learners every year. The last figure I've heard is about 25 000 new learners every year. The maths is not difficult. If you are going to put a thousand kids in a school, you have to build 25 schools, or you have to utilise schools in a different way.
"In this part of the province we are to a large extent the first port of call for many learners from the Eastern Cape creating a huge need for schools in the district. We know for instance that Mossel Bay was the most hard-pressed area last year, and that is why they started the Garden Route High School, but it was temporary.
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"We understand the pressure the department is under, and there is no overnight solution. We are aware that the department is trying to accommodate all learners.
"One of the issues, a logistical issue for principals, is that schools of choice are being flooded by applications, and even just managing those applications is quite complex. If I take York, for instance, we have between 600 and 700 applications for 200 spaces in Grade 8. I think the situation at Outeniqua High is even worse.
United front during a big brag.
Extra-mural programmes
"The other thing that is very significant in South African education is that our better schools run very complex extra-mural programmes. When we look world wide at bigger schools, they don't have extra-mural programmes. And obviously if you run a nice, diverse extra-mural programme, it puts extra pressure on staff and facilities, bringing us back to resources and funds.
"I don't believe at a school it is all about A-teams and being flashy and brilliant. It is about participation as well, and building individual strength.
"Larger numbers seams to mitigate against that. I feel for my colleagues who are running schools that is overrun by numbers, and therefore having an uphill battle trying to create that sense of pride and ethos.
The passion of the hockey first team boys. This photo brings to mind the debate on learner numbers and ethos in schools. "If we double the number, do we lose the ethos?" - Francois Moll
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