CWESI Satellite Learning Centre, which operates in the evenings at Wynberg Boys’ High School, produced some wonderful results during the 2024 academic year. Last year was the 40th year of CWESI’s existence, allowing for even more celebration and accolades for all who have invested over the years in this institution.
27 students enrolled for the GETC (General Education and Training Certificate) in 2024. This class accommodates adult students who have not completed Grade 9 to do a GETC qualification. The subjects presented were English, Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation, Travel and Tourism, and Computer studies (INCT). The ages of the students in the class of 2024 varied between 16 and 48.
The Centre Manager and lecturer at CWESI SLC, Mr Carl Schmidt, shared that he was very proud of the class of 2024. CWESI had a 96% pass rate for the academic year.
131 papers were written during the final examination in November 2024 with a total of 42 A-symbols achieved – 78% of the papers written had results of over 60%.
There were 26 enrolled students for the full GETC, of which 25 completed the qualification and one will rewrite in June 2025. This is a true reflection of the dedication and hard work of the students.
By obtaining the GETC many students can now proceed to do the Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) and obtain their Matric, while others will study at FET colleges.
The students of the 2025 class are currently enrolling, with classes commencing shortly.
We wish the class of 2025 all the best, may they build on the results of 2024.
About CWESI
CWESI was founded by the late Joan Williamson as the Visitation Adult Education Centre which provided literacy and formal education for local domestic workers, gardeners, and farm labourers in the Constantia valley supported by the Constantia Catholic Parish Church.
By 1995 the Centre had outgrown its space, and Mrs Williamson’s close connections to WBHS saw the School’s Wynberg Education Sharing Iniative (WESI – an adult night school) merging to form CWESI (Constantia & Wynberg).
Then Headmaster, Bruce Probyn, wrote in the 1995 School Magazine:
This year we embarked on opening our facilities to a Night School which offers basic literacy, Standard Two up to Standard Eight, Certificates to adults. In fact, there is a student in the school who has just passed the second level of literacy who is 68 years old. It is so heartwarming to see these enthusiastic adults coming back to school after a hard day’s work, for some, to learn how to read and write …
To our knowledge, we are the first Model C school in the country to embark on this initiative. The entire programme, which is much larger than just the Night School, is called WESI (Wynberg Education Sharing Initiative).
Bruce Probyn tasked none other than Jan de Waal who went on to become the 14th WBHS Headmaster and who was a Head of Department at Wynberg at the time, with moving the night school from the Constantia church to WBHS. The first Principal of the CWESI format was John Young. When John moved, the late Chris Murcott became the Principal, and when he left, Carl Schmidt took over. During Carl’s time, the Night Schools in the country were transferred from the Department of Basic Education to the Department of Higher Education.
