Lower South Coast Communities Ecstatic About R1,3 Million Donation Of Computer, Library and Creche Facilities
For Immediate Release:
27 October 2022
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A newly established independent school catering for the underprivileged in Kenville, Durban, eager
to provide learners with access to library books, technology, and practical Science as they approach
the final stages of their schooling, has been afforded a R560 000 lifeline.
The under-resourced HSBP Institute of Learning, established in 2017, originally catered for learners
from Grades RR to 9 (2022). As of 2023, the school is introducing an online Grade 10 (FET) at the
school. This would incrementally increase to Grade 11 and Grade 12 by 2025.
Its incremental growth with the inclusion of the FET Phase, together with the Senior Phase (Grades 7
to 9), requires a focus on the sciences and has highlighted a shortcoming, being a Science Laboratory
capable of adequately satisfying the requirements of the CAPS Curriculum. In addition, to meet
prevailing and evolving technological advancements, the educational institution has identified a
need for an effective library and IT Resource Centre equipped with computers.
Upon hearing about the HSBP Institute of Learning’s growth plans to support increasing numbers of
learners and understanding its financial constraints, the South African Muslim Charitable Trust
(SAMCT) moved to assist, providing a donation of R560 000 and thus enabling the establishment of
the necessary additional facilities.
Speaking at a recent event to mark the official handover of the new facilities, SAMCT representative,
Mr. Gaff Osman, said: “Given that the sciences – physical and life – involve a great deal of practical
and investigative work, a laboratory is an absolute must for learner development and engagement
with the curriculum, whilst a functional library is a vital tool in inculcating a culture of reading. Of
course, IT education from a young age is now essential and schools are increasingly having to cater
for education in such things as coding and robotics if learners are going to emerge as competent
players in a technologically-advanced world.”
“These sorts of facilities are no longer luxuries affluent schools include in their educational offering –
they are essential tools for teachers at schools across the educational spectrum in this country,” he
added.
He said that it was ‘a tragedy’ that the Government was unable to keep pace with the provision of
such facilities, adding that few South African schools had the financial means to cope with the
required capital expenditure to fund projects such as computer and science labs and libraries.
“The HSBP Institute of Learning is just such an educational institution and one which is striving to
incrementally introduce new grades to enable learners to remain within the institution to the
completion of their studies. Such senior grade introduction does, however, come at an enormous
cost in terms of making available to learners the best tools for the effective completion of their high
school education, properly preparing them for tertiary studies or the world of work,” Mr Osman
said.
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 organization provides funding, services, and other resources for the improvement of the lives of
the vulnerable, deprived, and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable
assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work
to support needy organizations in the fields of social development, poverty alleviation, healthcare,
and education.
Mr. Osman stressed: “The HSBP Institute of Learning has shown itself to be wholly devoted to
preparing the learners in its charge for life, grooming them for the challenges of tomorrow. To take
such grooming to the next level, proper facilities for learning are a very necessary requirement. We,
of the SAMCT, were accordingly very pleased to be in a position to assist the school with its growth
aspirations and to enhance the learner’s overall experience here, opening the door to the wide and
exciting world of books, technology, and the sciences.”
ends
For more information about SAMCT or the combined IDM computer studies facility, creche and library donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za