MEDIA RELEASE
South African Muslim Charitable Trust Donates R376 476 For The Construction Of Three News Classrooms At TIBA Services For The Blind’s Remedial Centre in Lenasia
For Immediate Release
15 AUGUST 2015
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More special needs Grade R learners are set to receive the attention they require as a result of a recent injection of more than R370 000 from the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) for the construction of three new classrooms at TIBA in Lenasia.
The centre, formally established in 1977 to assist the visually impaired, has over the years extended its community services and provides assistance with early childhood development, providing bridging classes and remedial programmes for learners with special needs. However, space has increasingly become a problem at this level, forcing the centre to turn away many needy young learners.
Not anymore. The SAMCT ‘s donation of R376 476 has allowed for the development of three new classrooms, which will have ‘an incredibly positive impact’ on the centre’s waiting list of special needs youngsters.
The classrooms were officially handed-over at a TIBA function recently.
Presenting the classroom facilities, Mrs Rasheeda Motala, Social Responsibility co-ordinator of the SAMCT, said: “I can only imagine how it must feel, therefore, to have to turn away parents seeking to place their special needs children with you, citing a lack of space as the reason for denying acceptance at the centre… heartbreaking, I’m sure.”
She applauded TIBA, saying: “Centres such as yours do absolutely amazing work, made all the more important by the fact that the Department of Education has moved away from providing remedial and special classes in mainstream schools, further heightening the need for remedial education and bridging classes. It is clear, however, that specialist centres, such as TIBA, are in short supply country-wide. This regrettable fact simply adds to your already heavy burden, given the many youngsters needing the educational services you are able to deliver.”
In view of this, the SAMCT, was ‘absolutely delighted’ to be able to assist TIBA with funds to build additional classroom to meet its Grade R needs.
Mrs Motala stressed that the SAMCT recognised the work undertaken by teachers at the centre on a daily basis under extreme conditions.
“This demonstrates a high level of dedication to the task and the level of commitment they have to children they are teaching. Few people in society today are prepared to give of themselves so willingly. What you do daily for so many special children is truly a vocation. I believe that teachers and learners here truly deserve the appropriate infrastructure and the necessary space in order to derive the real benefits of specialised education, while still endeavouring to contain costs to ensure that such education remains affordable,” she said.
This required a fine balance, which, in today’s operating environment, was difficult to achieve, without external intervention.
She said: ” I believe that private business and charitable organisations, such as the SAMCT, have an important role to play in this respect.”
The SAMCT was established by Al Baraka Bank, Old Mutual and CII Holdings in 2008. Its creation enabled the provision of funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of, especially, South Africa’s deprived, poverty-stricken and historically disadvantaged communities.
The organisation has provided sizeable financial assistance solutions to worthy causes and organisations throughout South Africa, irrespective of race or religion. The scope of its activities, across South Africa, encompasses four primary sectors, being Education, Health, Social Development and Poverty Alleviation.
Mrs Motala said: “It is our hope that the completion of this classroom development project will now act to enable the enrolment of additional learners, so making a significant difference in their young lives. We trust that our humble efforts here, assisting in growing and bettering the centre’s physical infrastructure, will contribute meaningfully towards meeting the needs of growing numbers of youngsters – present and future – in your catchment area. It is so important that we enable children – and especially those facing learning challenges – to become the best that they can be… because, ultimately, they are all the future of South Africa.”
The SAMCT acknowledged that the provision of three classrooms was a small contribution towards the overall educational backlogs – special needs and mainstream – faced in South Africa, but Mrs Motala said: “I am sure that I speak for us all when I say that small as this contribution may be, it will make a significant difference to both the staff and learners here at TIBA.”
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Prepared by:
The South African Muslim Charitable Trust
For more information about the SAMCT, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Co-ordinator
Tel: +27 31 364 9183