Western Cape Education MEC, Debbie Schäfer has tendered her resignation to the Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde. This was confirmed in a joint statement by Premier Alan Winde and Minister Debbie Schäfer.
Schäfer said it’s been a great privilege to have served as provincial minister of Education in the province for the last eight years and she believes that she has left the Department in a better place than she found it, and is proud of the work that they have, together, achieved.
“I am, however, now ready to bow out of public life. I am in the fortunate position to have been offered a job in the legal sector in the UK, which I have accepted. I will be joining some of my family there which presents a unique opportunity for us to experience together,” she said.
She will leave the office effective from May 15. She thanked the former and the current premiers of the province for entrusting her with this responsibility, their leadership and support.
“Premier Winde has recently announced bold and exciting changes to the Western Cape government and I am excited for what this will lead to. A new Minister of Education will be afforded an opportunity to both build on the tremendous work of our team to date as well as to introduce change with their own approach and ideas,” she said.
Sharing these sentiments, Winde thanked her for her excellent service to the people of the province, particularly the children. “Anyone who knows Debbie knows that she is a strong and tenacious leader, who fights hard each and every day to ensure a well-run, quality focused education system in the Western Cape. Her results speak for themselves,” he said.
He added that Schäfer has been dedicated to supporting poor schools, with 61% of schools in the Western Cape now being ‘no fee’ schools.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, and the major impact that this had on the education sector, she worked hard to ensure our schools were prepared to protect those we love, while ensuring learning continued. And we were the only province, under her watch, to take proactive steps to feed school children during the lockdown. She did not need to be ordered by a court to do so.
“We will miss her sharp attention to detail and steadfast commitment to the values we share, and I thank her for the important role she played in our Cabinet. I am confident that she will be a great success in her new endeavor,” he said.
Winde said he will announce changes to his provincial cabinet tomorrow morning.
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sPicture: WCED