Peninghotsa – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has commended the efforts of the SABC and MTN in helping to restore the dignity of learners at Peninghotsa High in Limpopo.
The two entities, in partnership with government, sponsored the refurbishment of roofs in some classes in one block of Peninghotsa High, which were blown off by a hailstorm that hit the village in February last year.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the four refurbished classrooms, Minister Muthambi said: “It is with this in mind that I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the speedy corporate citizenship exhibited by both MTN and the SABC Foundations for their magnificent contributions in rebuilding this school.
“Our icon Nelson Mandela forged invaluable partnerships with the private sector towards the building of schools, particularly in poor communities across South Africa -- an initiative that the education sector can build on. Our sponsors today have demonstrated the ideals of former President Nelson Mandela.”
The Minister had visited the school as part of her Back to School campaign in January earlier this year.
Minister Muthambi urged residents to take part in honouring the memory of Madiba this Nelson Mandela Month. “We need to use the empowerment of those less fortunate as a vehicle to foster social cohesion, nation building, economic development and inclusive citizenship. Government acting alone cannot achieve anything without the collective wisdom of all in society.
“The National Development Plan (NDP) reminds us of our collective responsibility to change the socio-economic conditions of our citizens through public-private sector partnerships,” she said.
On Mandela Day (July 18) and the entire month of July, South Africans and people all over the world are encouraged to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to do community work in celebration of the values and principles that Mandela fought and stood for.
“I made a commitment to Peninghotsa learners in January this year when I visited a number of schools around the villages that I will come back to address some of the challenges faced by some schools. Today I’m here to reopen four classrooms that were destroyed by heavy storms back in 2014. I kept the promise because I am a person of my word,” she said.
The school which was established in 1997 often attracts a high number of prospective students because of the high matric pass rate over the past years. During the 2012 academic year, the school -- with 189 learners and seven educators -- produced a 96% matric pass rate. In 2013, it achieved 100% and 88% in 2014. However, this dropped to 56% last year, which attributed to the shortage of teachers.
However, Student Representative Council President, Musa Simango said now that they will be learning in a safe environment, all 58 grade 12 students will pass matric with flying colours.
“Government must expect a 100% pass rate at our school this academic year… We are very inspired by the initiative to repair the roof as well as the refurbishment of the four classrooms.”
SABC board chairperson, Professor Obert Maguvhe, said: “The refurbishment of the classrooms is a clear indication that the public broadcaster’s leadership is driven by action.
“As the SABC, our actions speak louder than words… We are action driven. We don’t talk about things we can’t deliver. We’ve repaired the roof and now we are expecting good and quality results at the end of this academic year, especially in grade 12.”
MTN SA Foundation Senior Manager: Education and Community Projects, Angie Maloka, said: “We are very proud about the manner in which we are changing the lives of young people through education in partnership with government.
“We are pleading with the community not to torch the school. Apart from refurbishing the roof, [we have] also provided two compujectors to the school… which combines a computer, projector and an interactive whiteboard into one versatile teaching tool that can be moved from one classroom to the next.
“It comes preloaded with the Department of Education’s curriculum-aligned material, thus assisting where textbook delivery remains a challenge.”
Limpopo Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe committed to assist the school with new furniture for the newly refurbished block before the end of this month. - SAnews.gov.za
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi at Peninghotsa High
