Cape Town – Basic Education Minister Enver Surty says he is happy with how teaching and learning have progressed at Sophakama Primary School in Dunoon, Cape Town, since the school was opened last June.
Built at a cost of over R40 million, Sophakama Primary is part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI). The school has 1 520 learners who enjoy access to 32 classrooms, a library, science laboratory, nutrition centre and an art room.
The Deputy Minister visited the school on Wednesday as part of government’s National Imbizo Focus Week. He wanted to get a first-hand account of how the state-of-the-art school has been performing.
Deputy Minister Surty said he was impressed that as early as 7am, teachers were already in class doing maths remedial work with learners, despite the fact that the visit was unannounced.
“… It makes me extremely happy to see that educators are committed to helping the children and are doing remedial work. During June last year, we delivered the school and it is very special to me because it is at the heart of an area where you can see the people live in abject poverty and the school represents a beacon of hope.
“This school is also unique in that it is a quintile three school, but it provides… breakfast as well as lunch…” he said.
The Deputy Minister said it was important for him to also check up on the conditions of the school’s infrastructure, including the food preparation area.
He said his visit was also aimed at recognising the contribution of educators to the school. “Educators have to work extremely hard as the classes are generally overcrowded… We recognise their contribution and we are happy for that,” he said.
Deputy Minister Surty urged learners to always maintain discipline, show their will to learn and to never stop dreaming. He told teachers that he was extremely proud of them and the manner in which they have maintained the school’s facilities as well as the quality of education.
He said in a poverty-stricken area like Dunoon, which is a township populated by informal settlements, the revolution to improve the lives of the people starts in the classroom.
As part of Imbizo Focus Week, the Department of Basic Education will interact with parents and school communities across the country under the theme ‘Together we move South Africa forward’.
Deputy Minister Surty also handed out 2 000 food parcels to school learners. – SAnews.gov.za
