A KwaMashu, Durban, primary school’s aging and dilapidated prefabricated structures were proving inadequate for its growing learner population, until the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) stepped in with the donation of two brand new mobile classrooms, together valued at R670 000, recently.
Phikiswayo Primary School, which was established in 1992, had previously appealed to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for assistance in building new classrooms. However, budgetary constraints had placed this endeavour on hold indefinitely. Commenting on its donation of two classrooms, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaff Osman, said: “The school’s present structures fall a long way short of providing a conducive environment for effective learning and development. This has let the school in a most challenging position as it faces rapidly increasing enrolment, despite its lack of appropriate facilities for foundational learning.”
Unfortunately, too, the school’s main building, which accommodates other grade levels, is roofed with asbestos, posing a significant respiratory health risk for both learners and staff.
Mr Osman said: “While this serious issue remains unaddressed, the demand for additional, safe learning spaces has become even more critical. Learning of the school’s infrastructural shortcomings, the SAMCT was quick to intervene, sponsoring new classrooms for the benefit of the school’s critically important foundation phase learners, significantly reducing growing overcrowding issues.”
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing, and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organisation provides funding, services, and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived, and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation, and education.
Mr Osman added: “The basis of a sound and effective education lies, initially, with a school’s facilities. This school was sorely lacking in this respect, and we believe the new classrooms will go some way to helping provide a safer and more conducive learning environment, ensuring quality education and improved academic outcomes.
Phikiswayo Primary School strives to deliver quality education to its learners in spite of its infrastructural challenges, and securing the two new mobile classrooms has enabled it to better accommodate its foundation phase learners in a much-improved environment.
“The SAMCT is pleased to have been in the position to help support educational equality and safety for learners in this historically underserved area. Our small contribution has not only alleviated immediate space constraints, but has also brought hope to the educators and the families of learners who are jointly striving for a brighter future for their children,” Mr Osman stressed.
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For more information about the SAMCT or its Islamic Medical Association and Mobile Healthcare Clinic donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za