The Eastern Cape Department of Education is continuing to do itself proud in its long-term goal of demolishing mud structures in and around the province when it yet again handed four classrooms to the Mtebhele community in Ngqamakhwe.
The community was filled with excitement and ululating as their dream of having modern classrooms was realised on 15 September 2009. Nkqubela Senior Primary School which was established in 1982 has, all along been operating in a two roomed mud structure which, according to the Principal Mncedisi Patso, was shared by pupils from grade R to grade four. A visibly proud Patso took the crowd back from where the school comes from. “We were struggling a lot and the community helped by allowing us to use their houses as classrooms for those students who had no classrooms,” explained Patso.
According to Patso the department has built three classrooms. The new model face brick structure has tiles, blackboards and ceilings to match its standard. Patso also said that when they were still amazed by the departments’ work, the department delivered 140 desks and office furniture to their school to complete the good deed. We also received a R100 000 from the then Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Bhalindlela and we decided to use that money to buy material to build three other classrooms.
Luckily for us the King Hintsa Further Education and Training (FET) College offered their third year students in brick laying to build the classrooms for us which meant that we saved a lot of money by not hiring a contractor to do the job.
Addressing the community in the event, the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Bulelwa Thunyiswa Gqobhoka urged the community to cease the environment (school) that has been presented to them. She then emphasised that face brick walls and new desks do not teach children, the community must be involved and help teachers to educate learners. Gqobhoka concluded by urging the community to take care of the school as they have sweat blood for it.
Issued by: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
18 September 2009
Source: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.ecdoe.gov.za/)
