Yet another newly built school has been opened and handed over in the Eastern Cape. Kwezilethu Junior Primary School replaced a mud school which had been built by the community many years ago.
The school is part of the many being opened under the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). The school infrastructure is delivered through the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) aimed at restoring dignity in rural areas.
The MEC for Planning and Treasury in the Eastern Cape, Mr Phumulo Masualle, presided over the official opening on 15 August.
Local community members, cultural dance groups and school choirs provided the entertainment as the state of the art institution was delivered to them.
ASIDI schools will help to reduce the learner dropout rate in schools in South Africa with the advent of exciting learning facilities such as science and ICT laboratories.
The government’s contribution in replacing inappropriate school structures through ASIDI has become a significant milestone for the expansion of access to basic education for all South African children. The new schools complement the Department of Basic Education’s efforts in fighting against inequality in education.
Kwezilethu Junior Primary School’s principal said that in the past learning and teaching in the school used to be challenging due to the shortage of appropriate resources. “With ASIDI schools things are getting better now, the new school has made learning and teaching very interesting,” she said.
Furthermore, the principal pleaded with government to hire security personnel in schools to ensure that the school benefits an entire generation.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr Phumulo Masualle urged principals and educators to transform ASIDI schools into centres of excellence. The MEC recalled how he only discovered some of the opportunities being offered to learners in ASIDI schools in the later years of his life.
The MEC was impressed by the display of learners in the computer lab, working on their laptops in a rural setting, calling it a revolution. Alluding to the greater opportunities afforded by access to technology, maths and science kits from Grade R, Mr Masualle urged the community to take full advantage adding, “We are proud of this effort. The town has come to the rural areas.” His tour of the school led him to the multi-purpose centre, library, science lab, dedicated Grade R centre, decent sanitation facilities and administration block.
