Western Cape Education Head of Department Brian Schreuder is laying down the pen after 47 years of service.
The education icon’s journey started when he and his family moved to Upington in 1992 where he was appointed as a circuit manager.
In 1993, he became superintendent of the Cape Town circuit based in Mowbray, and in 1996, just over a year after amalgamation, he was appointed district director for Wynberg.
This was an interesting time in education, building interdepartmental relationships and the establishment of the South African Schools Act, he says.
“I leave with a profound feeling of gratitude for the thousands of principals and teachers with whom I have had the privilege to work and serve in various capacities over the years.
“I am keenly aware of the challenges facing education, but I am even more firmly aware of the fact that there is a critical mass of colleagues who share the vision of quality education for every child in every classroom in every school in the province (and indeed in SA).”
Some of his achievements include the development of the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in 2006 and the 2012 McKinsey report which highlighted the successful strategies that contributed towards elevating the performance levels of previously disadvantaged schools.
Schreuder also served on the Global Advisory Board of the New York-based The Education Partners and is also a Member of the Judging Academy for the Global Teachers Prize.
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer says: “I wish him a restful and relaxing retirement, but his character clearly does not lend itself to too much leisure.
“I have no doubt he will continue to make a contribution to our cause of delivering quality education to every learner in our province, or wherever else he has the opportunity."