School a beacon of hope

Place of learning in poor area beats odds

A MOTHERWELL primary school is swimming against the tide and has become a model school despite its no-fee status and surrounding community of unemployed and uneducated people.

Under principal Simphiwe Mkhangelwa’s leadership, Dumani Public Primary School is committed to providing quality education to its pupils and is not waiting around for the Department of Education to provide the necessary resources and equipment.

“This school is extremely important in this area as most of the parents who live here are not educated,” Mkhangelwa said.

“It is a beacon of hope for these parents because they want to see their children educated.

“They want to see their children rise above these circumstances.”

Last week, the school received two Grade R classrooms in a joint sponsorship from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s mayoral office and Mark Headbush Foundation.

The money for the classrooms was raised through the foundation’s annual Mayoral Golf Day.

“Our Grade Rs were being taught in storerooms and they were overcrowded,” Mkhangelwa said.

“At that stage in their lives they learn through play, but because they had no space their play was restricted.

“We bought the first Wendy house ourselves with money we raised. People help those who help themselves.

“I approached the Mark Headbush Foundation and they provided additional Wendy houses for our classrooms,” he said.

Grade R teacher Zukiswa Godolozi said: “The children now have the space to play and learn.

“They can now decorate the new classes with their artwork and they are very excited about that.”

He said while other township schools were losing numbers dramatically to northern areas and former Model C schools, Dumani was steadily gaining numbers.

“Last year, we were at 1 274 learners and this year we have 1 317.”

“I think parents can see how dedicated our teachers are.

“They can see the passion of our teachers and that is why they want their children here.”

Mkhangelwa said: “Probably half our learners come from other parts of Motherwell.

“We tell the parents who live nearby that if they do not apply early there will not be any space left.

“We also have zero tolerance for teachers and learners coming late and when teachers have free periods they are always doing their admin in the staff room.”

The school encouraged all pupils to take part in extramural activities.

“We have found that every sporting code requires respect, discipline and responsibility,” he said.

“So our learners play rugby, soccer, cricket, netball, volleyball, gymnastics and indigenous games.

“We also have learners who are semi-professionally playing golf.”

The school had assembly each morning and each teacher got a chance to lead in prayer.

“We are also an environmental school and are affiliated to Wessa [the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa].

“We have a programme and a committee assigned to taking care of the school grounds.

“Learners are encouraged to pick up any papers and to report anyone littering.”

Deputy principal Nomatemba Gaxamba said: “We also have a strategy to save water.

“When children go to use the toilet they wash their hands in basins outside the classrooms.

“Prefects and monitors also check that no one litters. Even the vendors who sell things know they have to clean up when they are done.”

Mkhangelwa said the school gave unemployed parents plots to grow vegetables to feed their families and to sell.

The school’s dreams include having a hall which could be hired out to the community, a library and a computer laboratory to ensure that pupils are not left behind in technology.

“I do not want to deprive these learners,” he said.

“I want them to have these things now, so I am hustling and speaking to companies.

“I am doing all that I can to ensure they will thrive and have what children at other schools have.”