Two donated mobile classrooms and an administration facility, jointly valued at R790 000, are poised
to transform the educational lives of severely disadvantaged young learners atending school in
Newlands, East London.
The new school infrastructure, sponsored by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT), was
presented to St Luke’s Public School to counter severe class overcrowding and ensure improved
administrative activities.
Commenting on the classrooms and admin donation, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaff Osman, said:
“St Luke’s Public School is doing incredible work in this especially depressed area, providing for the
educational needs of learners in spite of severely cramped conditions; conditions which most
certainly are not conducive to either teaching or learning.”
“Unfortunately, the provision of appropriate infrastructure was a financial challenge the school was
unable to resolve in spite of the school growing exponentially to meet increased demand for
placement in the face of an expanding catchment area population.”
Mr Osman stressed that South Africa’s youth deserved every educational and developmental
opportunity, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances.
“Given the extreme need for additional classrooms at St Luke’s Public School, the SAMCT was
pleased to have been in a position to assist, sponsoring two additional mobile classrooms, easing
learner overcrowding, and providing vital administration office facilities, greatly enhancing the
smooth running of the school,” Mr Osman said.
The move will ensure the school’s ability to admit additional learners from the area, without
compromising classroom space.
He added that every child had the right to a fit and proper education in an environment conducive to
learning and the absorption of knowledge.
“Overcrowded classes simply do not offer an effective place of learning and severely compromise
young people’s future,” said Mr Osman.
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.
This has ensured that the South African Muslim Charitable Trust is the beneficiary of this Shariah
suite of funds, enabling it to provide 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.
“The SAMCT was privileged to partner with an educational institution that recognised the
importance of education and the fostering of a favourable learning environment; an environment
designed to benefit those the school exists to serve. It is our hope that teaching and learning at St
Luke’s Public School will have been afforded increased momentum as a consequence of having
access to the new infrastructural facilities we have provided,” Mr Osman concluded.