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By: Lauren Human

“A commitment to the education of our children is an investment in the future

politicians, business mit toward success,” Mayor, Cllr

of Mayoral nd offcials cated their

Among the schools visited were Alfonso Arries Primary School in Chatty, KwaZakhele High School, Newell High School in New Brighton, Rocklands Primary School, Kuyga Primary School, Qaphelani High School in KwaZakhele and Mzam’omhle Special School.

Meetings were held at each of the schools to discuss the challenges, and to assess means of partnership between the spheres of government

to combat some of these problems facing schools.

The NMBM has identifed 10 schools as a priority, and managed to do work in six of them, with the other three additional schools adopted by companies who are supporting the NMBM Education Task Team Programme.

According to a report by the NMBM Education Task Team, the work done on the schools include the repair of classrooms, fxing of toilets, water leaks, notice-boards and the transformation of classrooms into computer labs. In one school, a palisade fence was erected and computers donated to two schools.

The NMBM and its social partners have managed to erect two highly modernised prefab structures in two schools, the Daniels Primary School in Ward 26 and Fumisukoma Primary School in Ward 57.

The identifed schools include Cingani High School in Motherwell, Helenvale Primary School, Fumisukona Primary School in Motherwell, Solomon Mahlangu High School in

KwaNobuhle, Sivuyile Primary School in Soweto-On-Sea, Rufane Donkin Primary School, Masibambane High School in KwaZakhele, Jarvis Gqamlana Primary School in New Brighton, James Ndulula Public School in Langa and Loyiso High School in Zwide.

Mayor Wayile also launched the NMBM’s uniform and school shoes collection drive in February, which is a programme aimed at giving every child in need a school uniform and pair of shoes.

The Uniform Collection Drive has received an overwhelming response from local businesses and the people of the city, with cash donations and also school shoes and uniform donations streaming in.

The Uniform Collection Drive saw Mayor Wayile, accompanied by Mayoral Committee Councillors, Councillors, offcials of the Municipality, businesspeople, residents and members of the Education Task Team, visiting local malls to beg barefoot and with placards for donations.

“This is a commitment we are consciously making as a local government to support our children. Education needs the partnership of all spheres of government. We are also grateful to the support that we have been given by the private sector during this campaign,” said Mayor Wayile.

Mayor Wayile revealed that the Municipality will for the rest of the year monitor the situation in schools, and work alongside the District Department of Education to see where the Municipality is able to assist.

“The Mayoral Committee has been divided into various clusters to monitor the different schools. This is not a once off thing, where you see us now and see us again at this time next year. Although we are happy with the slight improvement of the results in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, we still need to do more,” said Mayor Wayile.

During a visit to Qaphelani High School at the start of the year, Premier Kiviet made an enquiry into why the matriculants of the school achieved a dismal 18% pass rate.

The Premier also donated school bags, shoes and uniforms to those learners in need.

“I am grateful to the Municipality for stretching far beyond their core mandate to participate fully in the education of the African child. These partnerships and commitments will lead to an improvement in the results of the Eastern Cape province,” said Kiviet.

MUNICIPALITY COMMITS TO PARTNERSHIP

TO COMBAT CHALLENGES IN SCHOOLS

mitment to the education of our children is an investment in the future of the country. As politicians, parents, teachers and business people we need to commit toward making teaching and learning a success,” Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Zanoxolo Wayile.