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Speech at AET Level 4 Farewell – Wednesday 25 October 2017

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WELCOME ALL ESPECIALLY OUR LEVEL 4s Today I know we are suppose to focus on the Level 4s, but I thought we all need to take time out and reflect. Thus the video and song of Micheal Jackson – Man in the Mirror. If you listen carefully to the lyrics you will see what he […]

13th November 2017
In THE DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS

Mr. Solomon’s address at the end of the food fair

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“Thank you thank you thank you, It is with immense gratitude that I am standing here. I’m extremely proud of our learners parents educators the community friends past pupils business community and all sponsors Our first ever fundraiser in the history of BEST college as principal and Mrs Da Silva as deputy principal and it […]

8th November 2017
In THE DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS

Message from the principal

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Since our last B.E.S.T. NEWS a lot has happened. We would like to welcome Mr. Nceba Vantyi to our school. He exudes so much energy and the learners have taken to him and look forward to his classes. As our newsletter reflects, we’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to interact on various levels […]

29th September 2017
In News, THE DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS

OPEN DAY FOR NEW APPLICANTS — WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2017: 12H30 – 14H30

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B.E.S.T COLLEGE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL (Under the auspices of CAPE YOUTH CARE) Prospective Learners who sincerely would like to achieve a GETC (General Education & Training Certificate) Grade 9 – can attend the OPEN DAY with Parents/ Guardians.  A GETC is the minimum requirement to study further in a more career orientated direction at a TVET […]

5th September 2017
In News
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THE DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS AT BEST COLLEGE RELAUNCH

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our College, our passion.

Born in a shipping container 17 years ago, the vision and passion of Chris Smith is manifested in this institution you see around you. From the humble beginnings of the first group of 4 learners in that container in Pinelands we now educate 160 learners in this beautiful building.

Our roots go back to the days of residential based child care with Cape Town Lads Hostel Association (known as Teen Centre) in Rosebank and St Johns Hostel Association in Tamboerskloof. By the early 90’s both organizations, who had probably each been operational for around 40 years, were facing imminent closure due, naturally, to funding constraints. If memory serves me correctly we received government funding of about R 450 per month per child at that time (and that was for full residential care). The writing was on the wall. The two committees fortunately had the mutual vision to embrace change and to combine the two organizations under one body, Cape Youth Care, now known as The Cape Youth Care Foundation.

We now face a cost per learner of R 17,300 per annum of which The Cape Youth Care Foundation funds 50%, other funders 40% and parents 10%. But this college would still not function without, yes, its passionate team of 11 teachers and support staff, led so admirably by Mark Solomon with the support of the foundation’s general manager Niel Van Niekerk.

If I look at our trustees, Max Maxwel-Hafen, Brett Williams and David Wightman we have accumulated around 100 years of association with child care. Why? I commenced my association with Teen Centre some 30 years ago as a greenhorn accounting articles clerk. Chris Smith, first a principal at St Johns and then at Teen Centre until his retirement, dedicated 35 years of his life to child care. Max was himself a boy at St Johns and remains actively involved in BEST to this day, again, WHY?

Because we and, indeed, every person present here, recognize that Education is THE foundation of our community, our society and our country. We as parents, educators, business owners, government have a fundamental duty to play whatever small part we can in the sound education of our young people.

Yes, it is a cliché that the youth are our future but it remains a fundamental fact. We all do our best to feed our children, provide them with a roof over their heads and to provide a caring family environment, but if we do not ensure their education, we leave them powerless and disempowered.

A recent video commentary by the DG Murray Trust, a philanthropic organization that has supported Cape Youth Care over the years, asks the question “What will bring about the next real change in South Africa?” This is a powerful question. Their answer is simple, invest in the young people of South Africa. The challenge to every adult South African is to have a direct positive affect on at least one vulnerable child, vulnerable as far as her home circumstances, her personal development or her education. They conclude that this is where the next real change will come from and I must agree.

That is what the BEST College is about.

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CHAIRMAN CAPE YOUTH CARE FOUNDATION

I would like to quote BEST College Vision statement: To embrace and manage change, to uphold high standards, to educate within a safe, caring environment, learners who are age-inappropriate, who have fallen behind, who cannot attend mainstream schools, to realize their full potential, up to a GETC (we are now looking to extend our program to grade 10-12 CAPS curriculum).

That is my passion and that is the passion of the supporters of the BEST College.

MR ARNO ERASMUS
CHAIRMAN CAPE YOUTH CARE FOUNDATION

27th October 2016
In THE DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS

Cyberbullying

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A lot of innocent teasing happens on Facebook and via text message. So when does a good joke go bad? When someone “repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person.” Posting mean or hurtful comments and spreading rumors online was the most common complaint by teenagers. Not surprisingly, it is most prevalent among high […]

11th September 2016
In News

The B.E.S.T journey from container to college

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Cape Town, 23 May 2015: The former Basic Education and Skills Training (B.E.S.T) Centre celebrated a new chapter at its re-branding event in Salt River on Wednesday. The second chance school, which provides education to marginalised young people who have fallen behind, or battle to cope in the mainstream education system, changed its name to […]

11th September 2016
In News

More Than 100 Books Boost’s B.E.S.T College Library

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This week Atmosphere Communications and the King James Group donated over 160 books to its CSI partner, B.E.S.T College as part of a World Book Day collection drive. B.E.S.T College is an independent school and not-for-profit (NPO) organisation that gives youth who dropped out of the mainstream school system a second chance. World Book Day […]

11th September 2016
In News

Latest Posts

  • Open Day Wednesday ,17 October 2018 Wednesday, 3, Oct
  • Speech at AET Level 4 Farewell – Wednesday 25 October 2017 Monday, 13, Nov
  • Thanks Wednesday, 8, Nov
  • Mr. Solomon’s address at the end of the food fair Wednesday, 8, Nov
  • Information – FOOD FAIR – get tickets Monday, 16, Oct

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About

B.E.S.T College is a Cape Town based independent school that provides education to marginalised young people, who have fallen behind or battle to cope in the mainstream education system. We are a second chance school creating opportunities for underprivileged youth to achieve success.

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B.E.S.T College is a Cape Town based independent school that provides education to marginalised young people, who have fallen behind or battle to cope in the mainstream education system. We are a second chance school creating opportunities for underprivileged youth to achieve success.
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