Cameron Dugmore looks back, and forward

HESSEQUA NEWS AND VIDEO - Cameron Dugmore says goodbye, but not farewell.

South Cape Forum interviewed him on 9 May, one day after the sixth democratic elections. He has been the ANC’s Member of Parliament in Hessequa since 2014 until the day before Election Day.

“My time in Hessequa has been incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. My only regret is that, as this term comes to an end, I still have some items of unfinished business in the region. Besides some education issues, there remains the challenge of access to the coast (red line diagrams and Surveyor General) and rail mobility in the region.”

“I have a strong passion for youth and skills development and believe every young person who is not in school should be doing one of these five things - studying further, working, starting their own business, volunteering at a non-government organisation in the community, or travelling.

“It is important to look at quality education in public schools and we need to educate learners and inform them about their options. If they have left school early, they can do short courses at, for instance, Heidelberg Community College, or study further at South Cape College or Nelson Mandela University in George, or any other university of their choice.”

He believes that besides a dynamic principal and motivated teachers, every school needs infrastructure. “We are proud that we were able to provide a school hall at the only high school in Hessequa that did not have one, namely Kairos Secondary School. It was made possible by Garden Cities Foundation and WCED, but some businesses in Heidelberg also helped, in particular Delish Restaurant, who collected donations from clients, including tourists travelling through the town.

“In whatever capacity I am deployed by the ANC in future, I endeavor to help provide school halls at Oker and Melkhoutfontein Primary. De Waalville Primary also desperately needs to be upgraded, since the ‘plankieskool’ poses a serious fire threat.”

He would also like to see school fees scrapped at Kairos and Albertinia High, as the feeder schools in Slangrivier, De Waalville and Oker are non-fee-paying schools. “It would relieve a lot of stress on the parents, and I will continue raising this issue in parliament and with the Education MEC until both schools are no-fee schools.”

He believes every young person needs a personal development plan, which provides for education in line with the individual’s aptitude and abilities, and a work opportunity as an intern.

“Many businesses in the region already provide internships, but it seems businesses forget to make use of government’s youth wage incentive, which is funded by the Treasury.”

Regarding travelling, he believes learners should consider taking a gap year after finishing school and travel to destinations in the province, country and overseas by means of travel incentives such as opportunities to travel and work, or travel bursaries. “We must develop a culture of travelling among all our youth, and not just those whose families can afford it.”

Watch a video below: