R191 999 Infrastructural Injection Gives Disadvantaged Tongaat Primary School A New Lease Of Life
A Tongaat primary school battling to provide its learners with a sound education without proper electrical reticulation or access to basic library facilities, has been given a new lease of life, the result of a R191 000 injection to its infrastructure.
The school’s library and electricity windfall came as a result of an intervention by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) and coincided with UNESCO’s International Literacy Day, which is designed to remind communities across the world that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning.
Commenting during the recent hand-over of a high-quality mobile library and the complete re-wiring of the school’s electrical system, SAMCT Educational Consultant, Mr Farouk Bayat, said: “It is a tragic reality that so many South African schools are severely under-resourced from an educational facilities perspective and face major infrastructure challenges. Those worst affected are those located in peri-urban and rural areas and – of course – those that service our historically- disadvantaged communities.
He said that those who suffer most are the country’s young people.
“Children have the right to a fit and proper education, no matter their economic circumstances. Sadly, and given that so many schools are ill-equipped to deliver, many children are not being adequately prepared for life beyond school and without the benefits of a sound education, they are unable to become contributors to the economy, or – more worryingly – enjoy an improved quality of life. Emona Primary School fell into this category, in spite of the staff’s best efforts to impart their knowledge and wisdom to those in their charge,” he said.
Mr Bayat maintained that libraries formed the life-blood of schools and being the basis for learning, formed a ‘critically important part of the overall educational process.’
He stressed: “Learners of all ages must be able to read, given that literacy development is a strong indicator of a successful and balanced life. Reading enables the training of the brain, provides for mental stimulus, the acquisition of knowledge and ideas, promotes the use of one’s imagination and improves both vocabulary and memory. There can be no question that literacy development is key to success as a child and, later, as an adult. Importantly reading leads to improved writing skills.”
Mr Bayat indicated that ‘all this comes to nought’ if learners are subjected to poorly lit facilities and lack modern electricity-dependent teaching aids, and added that aging electrical infrastructure or schools lacking such a basic requirement for effective teaching compound an already untenable situation.
“Clearly, Emona Primary School, established in 1954 and which has seen little infrastructural development since, has faced an uphill battle in the face of extreme hardship. However, and
undaunted by such extreme challenges, staff and learners – to their great credit – have made the best of a bad situation. The SAMCT was, therefore, extremely pleased to step in, providing some
R191 000 for the provision of three mobile libraries, together with electrical re-wiring throughout the school.”
The SAMCT, created in 2008, was established to provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged members of South African Society at large. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout the country, irrespective of race or religion and works to support needy organisations in the fields of health, social development, poverty alleviation – including employment creation – and education.
“It is our hope now that the provision of these mobile libraries and greatly improved electrical reticulation at Emona Primary School will enable this educational facility to thrive, to significantly improve the level of teaching and to, thus, ensure the educational development of its young people well into the future,” Mr Bayat concluded.
ends
For more information about SAMCT and its Emona Primary School mobile library and electrical reticulation donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Email: samct@samct.co.za