Donation of Classrooms Makes Teaching And Learning At Overport Primary School More Manageable
For Immediate Release: 24 May 2022
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An Overport, Durban, primary school battling to meet the demand for admissions, whilst simultaneously attempting to normalise teaching in the face of social distancing protocols, has been thrown a timely lifeline through a South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) donation of two additional mobile classroom, valued at R451 000.
Speaking at the recent official hand-over of the new classrooms to Overport SRS Primary School, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaf Osman, said: “This will ensure readiness for the post-COVID-19 normalisation of teaching, without the need for alternate day attendance by learners, and give effect to reducing class sizes from the current 42 to some 35 learners.
It will also create the space needed to cater for increased school admissions, which, in turn, will enable opportunities for employing additional staff and, by accommodating more learners, generate additional and much needed income through school fees for the ongoing maintenance of the school.”
Overport SRS Primary School is a peri-urban educational facility which is fast-becoming one of the most sought-after institutions of its kind in the wider Overport area because of its highly experienced and passionate staff and steadily improving facilities; a situation which has seen admissions grow from 561 seven years ago to 1 200 today.
Mr Osman said: “A negative consequence of such significant growth, however, is that classroom space has become greatly limited, whilst demand for admission continues to grow. With the majority of learners coming from families in the lower income bracket, school fee collection stands at 30%, given that many parents are forced by economic circumstance to make applications for school fee concession.”
“To its credit, the school, in its quest to provide holistic education, has over the years secured funding for a daily feeding scheme and Zakaah for school fees and for facility improvements. This,
unfortunately, only caters for the basic needs of its learners. Regrettably, too, this is not an isolated problem. South Africa faces incredible challenges in terms of education. So many of our schools – especially those located in historically disadvantaged areas – face facility size versus admissions demand problems. This is particularly concerning insofar as it is extremely difficult to turn prospective learners away when every child, regardless of their economic circumstances, has the right to fit and proper education – an education that will effectively prepare them for a prosperous existence beyond school; transforming them into contributors to the economy and enabling them to enjoy an improved quality of life,” he added.
Educational facility size issues have been further exacerbated during the past two years by the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant disruption of education and need for teaching under socially distanced conditions.
“This is exactly the challenge faced by Overport SRS Primary School… a school battling on two fronts, firstly, trying desperately to accommodate the demand for admissions and, secondly, attempting to normalise teaching in order to maximise time for curriculum completion.
This is a school battling in the face of financial hardship, whilst remaining absolutely committed to preventing disadvantaged learners being any further deprived through exclusion or overcrowding.”
“Upon learning of the school’s plight, the South African Muslim Charitable Trust was extremely pleased to be able to intercede, providing a donation of R451 000 for the introduction of two brand new mobile classrooms to assist in the school’s expansion,” he maintained.
The SAMCT, created in 2008, was established to provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable solutions throughout the country, irrespective of race or religion and works to support needy organisations in the fields of health, social development, poverty alleviation and education.
Mr Osman said of the donation: “It is our hope that by providing these additional classrooms, Overport SRS Primary School will be able to begin the process of normalising classes and to look again at accommodating those seeking admission, especially at a junior level. In addition, it is hoped that our classroom donation will greatly assist in making both teaching and learning at this school significantly more manageable going forward.”
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For more information about SAMCT or its Overport SRS Primary School donation of two mobile
classrooms, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za