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IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Celebrating 22 Years of the Youth Jazz Series at Artscape
LAUNCHED in 2003, the Youth Jazz Series has evolved in numerous forms, passing through the hands of Cape Town's music legends who have shaped the careers of countless young musicians. Image: Supplied MARKING the 22nd rendition of one of Artscape's annual flagship projects, the Youth Jazz Series will be presented over a two-day masterpiece showcase featuring the Youth Jazz soloists and School Jazz Bands. The latter were selected by Keith Tabisher of the Western Cape Education Department. This year's project, directed by Head of Jazz Studies, UCT Associate Professor, vocalist and pianist Amanda Tiffin, encompassed Masterclass programmes where the young musicians learnt from those experienced in the industry. This year's selected participants comprise 14 young musicians who were auditioned to be part of the 2025 programme. They are: Andrea Martinez (vocals), Caleb Meyer (vocals), Sarah Pengilly (vocals), Cole Krieling (guitar), Dillon Poggepoel (bass), Micaela Hannibal (bass), Caleb Dlamini (piano), Aviwe Macutwana (trombone), Franco Von Wieligh (tenor saxophone), Zakhiel Davids (trumpet), Daniel Roux (guitar), Bruce Basson (piano), Kyle Damons (piano) and Ezra Smuts (drums). This year, the programme received a significantly higher number of applications - more than 50% - compared to 2024. Tiffin has been associated with the project for 11 years, and has been directing the Youth soloists showcase portion of the Artscape Youth Jazz Series since 2017. This year, to celebrate 22 years of mentoring young jazz musicians, Tiffin has invited six individuals, both past and debutants, as mentors. Some have participated in the programme more than once and have all gone on to establish themselves as highly successful professional musicians, award winning recording artists, touring performers, musical directors, and dedicated educators while others will be making their debuts, such as Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantyis (vocals), Mark Williams 2011 2012, 2014, 2025 (guitar), Marc De Kock (brass/sax), Brathew Van Schalkwyk 2017, 2025 (piano), Damian Kamineth 2017, 2021, 2025 (drums) and Chadleigh Gowar (bass). The mentors will also perform as a band, and bring their talent and expertise to the Artscape stage in what promises to be a very special and sparkling edition of the Youth Jazz Series. Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux said: 'It fills my heart with joy every year when we present this production that proffers the Youth a professional platform to showcase their mettle. Their talent often astounds me. Artscape remains proud that through this programme we have positively contributed to the growth their careers in the professional environment as the future of the Arts lies in youth development which we are very passionate about'. The project, made possible through the support of the City, launched in 2003, has gone through many different formats, and passed through the hands of some of Cape Town's top jazz professionals and music legends, who have mentored young aspiring jazz artists annually. It has also provided a major platform for young jazz musicians through mentorship, through the lasting connections made between young participants, and through the experience of performing on a major stage. The Youth Jazz Series features the Youth Jazz soloists on June 13 and the School Jazz Bands on June 14. Cape Times
Eyewitness News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
WCED says it has had few challenges with its expansion plans
CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says while it has plans to build more schools to accommodate the influx of learners into the province, it has had a few challenges with its expansion plans. The Department briefed the Provincial Standing Committee on Education on Tuesday on its Annual Performance Plan for 2025/2026 and its Strategic Plan. The Western Cape currently has about 1,500 public schools and faces increasing demand for new schools and classrooms. This is due to the influx of learners from other provinces due to migration. The Western Cape Education Department has told the Provincial Standing Committee on Education that budget cuts, rapid population growth, and infrastructure constraints are some of the challenges hindering the rapid delivery of more schools in the Cape. WCED's Salie Abrahams said the department is also aware of the inadequate distribution of schools between urban and rural areas. "We acknowledge the deficit that we have to speed up and we have had confidence purely on the basis of we've delivered on our promises. I would like to use that as a measure of financial allocation for service delivery, then the services must be delivered." He said they're also working with local municipalities to unlock land to build more schools.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Western Cape Education Department extends deadline as over 8,600 late applications flood in for 2026 school admissions
Deadline for late applications for Grade R, 1, and 8 in Western Cape extended Image: Supplied The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that while the on-time admissions window for Grade R, 1, and 8 in 2026 closed on 15 April 2025, the online admissions system has remained open for late applications. To date, the department has received late applications for 8,603 learners for these grades, bringing the total number of applications received so far to 173,872. The WCED advised parents and guardians that the online system will officially close on Friday, 16 May 2025. After this date, any late applications will need to be submitted in person at education district offices or directly at schools. Late applications will only be considered by schools after all on-time applications have been reviewed. The department has appealed to parents to submit their late applications as soon as possible, noting that early submissions help with planning for additional school placements where required. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Next steps for on-time applicants: Schools are currently reviewing applications submitted during the on-time admissions period and applying their admissions policies to select successful applicants. Offers of placement will begin from 30 May 2025, and parents must confirm their acceptance by 17 June 2025. The WCED stressed the importance of parents ensuring their contact details are up to date, as each year many offers cannot be finalised due to parents being unreachable. Updated contact details can be submitted by calling the WCED Call Centre at 0861 819 919 (press 1 for admissions). Transfer Applications (Grades 2-7 and 9-12) The online window for transfer applications for Grades 2 to 7 and 9 to 12 will open on 4 August 2025 and close on 18 August 2025. Applications from learners who have reached the highest grade available at their school, or whose families have relocated, will be prioritised. For more information and to access the online admissions system, visit the WCED website: Weekend Argus
Eyewitness News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Western Cape schools admission policy challenged in court
The Western Cape High Court is hearing an application by Equal Education on Thursday to have the Western Cape Education Department's school admission policy declared unconstitutional. Equal Education argues the policy does not cater for children with late applications. The case focuses specifically on the placement of learners in the Metro East Education District (MEED). The six applicants in the case include Equal Education and five parents or caregivers of children who made late applications in the 2024 school year. The children relocated from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape due to unforeseen circumstances. In one instance, a learner's mother passed away. In another, her mother relocated to Johannesburg to work as a domestic worker. Another's mother was retrenched due to the COVID pandemic. These circumstances led to the parents and caregivers only applying for school placement after the school year had already begun. Thursday's hearing is part B of the case. In July 2024 Judge Lister Nuku ruled in favour of Equal Education in part A of the case, ordering the WCED to place in school all learners who had applied late. The court order led the department to implement new procedures for processing late applications and establish 'pop-up' admission stations in several areas of Cape Town. Equal Education has decided to continue with Part B because of 'systemic' issues that still remain. It wants the court to declare that the department's failure to plan for late applications violates the Constitution, the department's admission policy violates the Constitution by failing to accommodate late applications, and the admission policy violates the Constitution for unfairly discriminating on the 'basis of race, poverty level, place of birth and social origin'. Equal Education says the current admissions policy does not specify the steps which late applicants must follow, who is responsible for assisting late applicants, how long it will take for long applicants to be placed, and the process to be followed if late applicants don't have the required documentation. Equal Education's court papers argue that the department's conduct, admissions policy and related circulars are unconstitutional because they violate the right to a basic education. This is because education is the primary vehicle by which socially and economically marginalised persons can lift themselves out of poverty. Equal Education says late applications largely stem from migration from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape, which are linked in the main to socioeconomic challenges facing learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of those affected by the current policy are Black learners, and by delaying their placement in schools, the cycle of poverty and disadvantage they seek to escape from is compounded, Equal Education contends. They dispute the department's claim that the arrival of late applications is 'unprecedented' because the department has been aware of this predicament since 2014. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE In court papers, the department argues that it is parents who are failing to comply with their legal duty to adhere to the compulsory education period (from age seven to age fifteen) by not to applying on time for their children to be placed in schools. The department argues that it goes out of its way through advocacy and communications efforts to raise awareness among parents about when and how they should apply for school placements in the preceding year. Applications for placement open in the preceding year between March and April. Applications should generally be made via the department's online system, but it also makes provision for walk-in applicants who should obtain assistance from the nearest district office. The department also argues that its admissions policy does cater to the needs of late applications and that parents and guardians of such children should make enquiries at the district office nearest to their place of residence. To the extent that any learners have not been placed, the department contends that it is investigating this and, in any event, according to the information received, almost all the learners have now been placed. Lastly, while not conceding that the current policy is defective, the department points out that it has recently adopted procedures which enhance its admission policy for late applicants. It says that Equal Education was invited to make input on this. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
