It has been a dream come true for Noxolile Mvani, a parent who has always wished to see her children acquire education in a well-resourced school. Some children in the Cofimvaba district of the Eastern Cape would stay at home until they were 7 years old before they start school.
This was because of the absence of a school that provided early child development (ECD) facilities. This meant that children in the area could not learn basic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic at an early age.
In the Ngcwanguba village, the old mud structure was built by the local community in response to the then government’s refusal to build a school for them in the apartheid era. The school only had five classrooms and three rondavels, which accommodated a small number of learners from Grade 1. Mrs Mvani said that it was not an easy journey to build the school without financial support.
Now, this has all changed, thanks to the goverment’s Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI). On 19 September 2013 the Minister of Economic Development, Mr Ebrahim Patel officially handed over the Vulindlela Senior Primary School. The new school can accommodate up to 700 learners from Grade R to Grade 7.
In addition to the brand new building the school has been equipped with computers to enable learners and teachers to conduct research, retrieve previous question papers as well acquire general knowledge in the use of technology. Each school built under the ASIDI programme is provided with 27 laptops to introduce the learners to the use of Information Communication and Technology.
“I really appreciate the work of the Department of Basic Education for building us a new school. At least our children will learn in a healthy, appropriate environment that we hope will also motivate them to come to school every day,” said Mrs Mvani.
Minister Patel told residents that thorough teaching should occur at the primary level, foundation phase in particular. This will assist in developing future engineers, medical doctors, psychologist, and other professions in this country. “Teachers should be at school on time in the classroom teaching,” said the Minister. The Minister further encouraged parents and teachers to build a strong partnership in improving learner performance in the classroom.
Minister Patel re-emphasised government’s commitment to support all public schools and said the new schools will enable all South Africans to access quality education through modern facilities such as ECD, laboratories, libraries and Information Communication and Technology (ICT). “Government has provided this to you to benefit your community, please look after it,” said Minister Patel.
Most of the schools built are primary schools because the Foundation Phase has been identified as a critical phase in the schooling system. All the new schools are provided with the inclusion of ECD centres, fully equipped with relevant facilities and resources which help learners to relate with the world practically. The school infrastructure programme has benefitted local communities as jobs have been created in each village there a new school has been built.
