Baldaskraal – Learners from Hlophe High and Remington Primary Schools in the deep rural area of the Uthukela District, walk about 10km every day to reach school.
It is for this reason that Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams decided to donate 100 bicycles and 200 pairs of school shoes to the schools to stop the high rates of absenteeism and late coming.
The handover formed part of the Deputy Minister’s Mandela Month activities. South Africans are encouraged to use the month to emulate the late former President Nelson Mandela to do good and improve the lives of people in their community.
Despite the heavy rainfall on Tuesday, the learners and community members attended the handover of the bicycles and shoes at the Hlophe High school in Baldaskraal.
Hlophe High learner, Njabulo Msibi, said she was grateful for the donation.
“To prosper … education is very important and the key to success. We would like to thank the Deputy Minister and MTN for the gift which is going to assist my fellow learners who live far from school."
Anele Nhleko, from Remington Primary, said: “We will never ever arrive late at school again. Thank you very much for the bicycle and school shoes”.
The donation is a result of the partnership between government and MTN known as 21 Days of the Yell’o campaign.
The private public partnership between the Department of Communication and MTN aims to ensure the challenge is addressed and the government’s outcome to improve basic education is achieved.
The Deputy Minister chatted to the learners about the role of the youth in the modern day society, challenges faced by the youth and the opportunities available for the youth in terms of education.
“Education is a priority and everyone must play a role in ensuring that all children go to school. The bicycles and shoes will make a difference in improving the learner’s access to school and improve their lives.”
She committed to come back to Emnambithi to establish a telematics centre which will allow the Grade 11 and 12 learners to be developed in ICT. – SAnews.gov.za
Hlophe High and Remington Primary Schools receive bicycles, school shoes
