The school puts the education and extra‐mural activities of its learners first, going to great lengths to provide after‐hours programmes for its learners as an alternative to the impoverished learners excluded from extra‐mural activities because of being unable to afford the costs associated with public transport have been given the opportunity to also derive the benefits of after school hours pursuits following the sponsorship of a new school bus for Noorder‐Paarl High School in the Cape Winelands.many social ills which might otherwise befall them once lessons are over each day. However, many of the schools learners are unable to participate because of transport affordability issues.
Stepping into the breach recently was the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) which provided R350 000 towards the purchase of a new 22‐seater school bus. The school also contributed some R108 000 towards of the cost of the vehicle.
Stepping into the breach recently was the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) which provided R350 000 towards the purchase of a new 22‐seater school bus. The school also contributed some R108 000 towards of the cost of the vehicle.
Commenting on its bus sponsorship gesture, SAMCT Trustee, Mr Faried Boltman, said: “Our organisation was very pleased to have had an opportunity to become involved with Noorder‐Paarl High School and to contribute towards solving a major challenge faced on a daily basis ‐ that of safe, effective and efficient school transport.”
During 2015, the SAMCT assisted the school with a properly tarred entrance walk‐way, car park and feeding scheme area. Mr Boltman added: “This is a school with an exceptional past; a school which has through circumstance seen an unfortunate decline, and a school with the vision, determination and the courage of its convictions to work doggedly to return this educational institution to its former glory, in spite of being a no‐fee, Quintile Three school, serving communities characterised by unemployment and poverty. In view of the school’s sheer determination to better its facilities and learner offerings in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, I am able to say with
confidence that the SAMCT is delighted to have been in a position to have again come to the assistance of Noorder‐Paarl High School.”
With Government facing necessary austerity measures, additional funding for disadvantaged schools is going to be a problem, making the efforts of educational institutions, such as Noorder‐Paarl all but a pipe‐dream without external financial assistance.
“In this regard, I feel that private sector and charitable organisations, such as the SAMCT, have an important role to play in helping realise the vision of those who strive for educational success,” Mr Boltman added.
The SAMCT was established by Al Baraka Bank, Old Mutual and CII Holdings in 2008, creating a vehicle for the provision of funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of South Africa’s deprived, poverty‐stricken and historically disadvantaged communities. The Trust has provided financial assistance solutions to worthy causes and organisations throughout South Africa, irrespective of race or religion, with its scope of activities across South Africa encompassing four primary sectors, being education, health, social development and poverty alleviation.
Mr Boltman stressed: “In contributing to Noorder‐Paarl High School’s transport needs, enabling the ferrying of children after school hours, it is our hope that the school will be successful in involving many more learners in extra‐mural activities; learners who would otherwise be excluded from such participation because of lacking the financial means to pay for public transport. Having available a dedicated school bus will, no doubt, create a safer transport environment for the learners, whilst easing the financial burden the school faces in paying service providers for transport. Importantly, too, teachers who have ‐ out of the goodness of their hearts ‐ transported learners after events will
no longer face the consequence of additional petrol bills.”
He said it was hoped the SAMCT’s assistance in improving the Noorder‐Paarl High School’s wider offering would contribute meaningfully towards the school’s long‐term mission of restoring the school to its former glory and that the bus sponsorship would make ‘a telling difference in the lives of learners and teachers alike.’
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For more information about SAMCT or its School Bus sponsorship, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: +27 31 364 9183