Bay schools excel against the odds

, Khanyi Ndabeni and Luyolo Mkentane HERALD REPORTERS

A GROUP of poverty-stricken schools in Nelson Mandela Bay have risen above their dire circumstances to become inspirational beacons in their communities, offering disadvantaged pupils quality education and a brighter future.

Through innovative fundraising techniques and personal sacrifice, several teachers and principals have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure their schools are immaculately maintained and their pupils well taught.

At Sakhisizwe High School in Kwazakhele, principal Mzimkhulu Qunta has paid R95000 out of his own pocket for learning material for his matric pupils. He also shares his salary with three assistant teachers so his pupils can get the education he believes they deserve.

At Sapphire Road Primary School in Booysen Park, principal Bruce Damons has boldy declared his school a no-fee school and has developed hugely effective fundraising drives that enable the school to thrive.

These are just two of the schools that have decided to shape their own future instead of waiting for handouts from the Education Department.

Other schools have secured sponsorships and donations from NGOs, foundations and corporations, while some get much-needed learning material by "twinning” with wealthier schools across the globe.

At many of these schools motivated teachers give up their spare time to teach extra classes.

Earlier this month The Herald reported on Nelson Mandela Bay’s "schools of shame”, where pupils are forced to learn in shocking and hazardous conditions. Many have no desks, chairs, sports facilities or learning material due to the inability of the Education Department to supply adequate funding for infrastructure maintenance.

However several schools are breaking the mould by proving that poverty is not necessarily an insurmountable hurdle to a quality education and a safe learning environment.

Provincial Education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said he hoped other schools in the province could learn from the example of these schools.

"These are the kind of schools we would like to encourage. As government there is a lot that we can do but because of limitations we can not at the moment. In the meantime school leadership can take the initiative and show passion in what they do. This will encourage parental support,” said Pulumani.

He said he had been inspired after visiting Sapphire Road Primary.

"Here is a school in a very poor area but they are working hard and the principal is passionate about the school and about the pupils.

"We need more teachers and principals to show this kind of initiative. Not all schools have the capacity to attract huge company sponsorships but if they just start off small, they can do it.”

Sapphire’s success was highlighted when Damons was named best primary school principal in South Africa for 2008.

His plan of roping in community members to assist the school has borne fruit, with one parent helping out with security at the school, others cleaning the school on a regular basis and others volunteering. The school has also opened a clinic and a counselling centre for pupils, run by volunteers.

Members of the community are allowed to run various business ventures from the school’s premises in exchange for helping the school.

A carpenter at the school uses a classroom and assists in repairs at the school. A brickmaker at the school also built the school clinic, which is run by volunteers.

Community involvement can also be found at Alpha Primary School in Gelvandale where parents and past pupils rallied around the school after a devastating fire in February.

Teacher Veronica Potgieter said people had come forward with donations of a computer laboratory, school uniforms and shoes and had even fixed the gates and made a school sign board.

"This just proves that you do not need to wait for people to help you. You need to learn to help yourself.”

She said various companies and schools and even families abroad had assisted.

Normoyle Primary School, based at the Missionvale Care Centre, would not exist if it were not for sponsorships from companies.

But a few volunteers from the disadvantaged community have also assisted in the small way they can.

"The mothers in the area come in as volunteers in the kitchens and also to clean the school,” said head caregiver at the centre Muriel Eskok.

"Groundsmen who help out with the cleaning all started off as volunteers in the beginning,” said head of education at the school Peter Finnemore.

Emafini Primary in KwaDwesi has "twinned” with Scotland’s Wellington High School, which has resulted in 80% of the school’s furniture being imported from overseas.

Jeffreys Bay’s Makukhanye Primary is twinned with St Faith’s Cambridge school in the United Kingdom.

A successful feeding scheme was started and has been running at the school ever since.

Among the many South African organisations that have donated thousands of rand to impoverished Nelson Mandela Bay schools are Abedare Cables, Read Education Trust, the Union of Jewish Woman, Port Elizabeth Rotary Club, Nkuhlu Education Trust Fund, Petro SA, General Motors SA, Volkswagen and PPC Cement.