Severe class overcrowding at a disadvantaged no-fee Amaoti, Inanda North, secondary school has led
to learners being forced to share desks or stand during lessons, making learning and teaching
extremely difficult under such adverse conditions.
That all changed with a recent R625 000 donation of desks, chairs, doors and security gates by the
South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT), transforming Amandlethu Secondary School, north
of Durban.
This is the only Secondary School in the area, making it the biggest school in Inanda, with
a learner population of 1 707 and 52 teachers.
Mr Gaff Osman, representing the SAMCT, said of the donation: “Learning under such dire
circumstances is simply unacceptable. It has made the work of both learners and teachers extremely
difficult. However, and in spite of a desperate need for additional school furniture, staff and learners
have long made the best of the situation.”
“In spite of its financial and the challenge of overcrowded classrooms, the school has been successful
academically, achieving good Matric results. Working under such adverse conditions, this is a credit
to the teaching staff and, especially, the learners and reflects their determination to overcome any
adversity in the quest for a good education,” Mr Osman said.
Although chairs and desks were the school’s primary concern, a need also existed to replace a
number of broken classroom doors and to install security gates for increased safety purposes.
Mr Osman stressed: “Learners having to stand during lessons during the school day, or crouching
three to a desk is simply not conducive to effective learning and it was for this reason that the
SAMCT donated chairs and desks to the school. In addition, we ensured the provision of new
classroom doors to replace damaged and broken infrastructure and fited security gates where
necessary
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 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 organisations in the fields of social development, poverty alleviation, healthcare
and education.
“There can be no question that many of South Africa’s historically disadvantaged schools are in a
very poor state of repair and are critically under-resourced. Equally, the State appears unable to
make a fundamental difference to these schools and it is being left to the private sector to intervene
in order to ensure our youth are afforded the proper facilities and equipment in order to learn. Every
child in this country has the right to a fit and proper education and every effort must be made to
ensure they are afforded the opportunity.”
“We, of the SAMCT, are very pleased to have been in the position to lend our financial support to
transforming Amandlethu Secondary School in its time of need and trust that the provision of desks
and chairs here will ensure still better academic results going forward,” Mr Osman concluded.