Sponsors help enhance teaching and learning
HERALD REPORTER
WHEN visiting Charles Duna Primary School, those who don’t know the area could be forgiven for assuming it is a former Model C school.
The New Brighton school is neat, all the pupils wear full uniform, the classes are full with a teacher in each room, and pupils doing sport have sport uniforms.
The entire school has recently been renovated thanks to its corporate sponsor, Aberdare Cables.
The company has spent R500000 on building an administration block. Last year it spent R1- million on renovating the school and putting in electricity.
The school, which is 50 years old, has 1014 pupils from Grade R to Grade 5, all from New Brighton and surrounding areas.
Virtually none of the pupils have computers at home, but the school has two computer labs. Pupils are taught computer skills in Grade 1.
On Mandela Day this year, former pupil Sipho Pityana, chairman of soccer team Bay United, donated R120000 to the school. It will be used to reward exemplary teachers and pupils.
Dumani Public Primary in Motherwell is looked after by the Union of Jewish Woman and the Port Elizabeth Rotary Club. It has received furniture, photocopying machines and copies of the Bible.
Cement company PPC has rebuilt toilets at Jarvis Primary and Lwandlekazi High. It also helped set up a soap manufacturing business at Joe Slovo School.
The company has adopted Cowan High in New Brighton. The school, which is 62 years old, has about 1150 pupils and is only 1,5km from PPC’s Port Elizabeth factory.
The company has since donated desks, chairs, a bakery and fencing with spikes.
Cowan High lost 12 computers when vandals targeted the school. The new fence appears to have curbed vandalism.
General Motors SA adopts a different school each year. Pupils are trained as peer educators in HIV/Aids awareness. The beneficiary of the programme this year is KwaMagxaki High School.
GMSA communications manager Denise van Huyssteen said badly vandalised ablution facilities at Vezubuhle Primary School in Motherwell were being repaired.
The Nkuhlu Education Trust Fund adopted Ebongweni Primary School in Seyi in 2006.
Cadbury has adopted four schools: Daniels Primary, Zwide; Fumisukoma Primary, Motherwell; De Vos Malan, Schauderville; and Fontein Primary, Gelvandale. The company has committed itself to spend about R6-million a year on these schools.
African Pioneer has since 2005 adopted three schools in Uitenhage – Limekhaya High, Uitenhage High and Phaphane High.
The company has helped with setting up computer labs in all three, as well as donating computers.
