Friday, 30 December 2011

Nutritional facility for Mtuba school

Assisting in the building of a new soup kitchen at Inqiwaneni Junior Secondary at KwaMsane in Mtubatuba are - Principal Mr Samuel Mathebula, School Governing Body Chairperson, Thema Mbuyase and Head of Treasury, Simiso Magagula

Children at Inqiwaneni Junior Secondary at KwaMsane in Mtubatuba will be served daily meals in a brand new facility once the new academic year commences in January. This after KZN Treasury built a new kitchen for the school to the value of R130 000 as part of the School’s Adoption Programme spearheaded by Provincial Treasury Head Simiso Magagula. In conjunction with the Department of Education, the KZN Treasury initiative identifies schools with special needs that require urgent intervention throughout the province.

‘Many challenges were identified at this school, including the dilapidated structure where children are served with food under the school nutrition programme,’ said Magagula. ‘My office with the assistance from the district education officials visited some schools in the area. ‘Officials reported about Inqiwaneni Junior Primary, which happened to be the school where I did my primary learning in the 70s. ‘I then felt that charity must begin at home. ‘This then became the first school to benefit under my programme,’ said Magagula.

He was addressing a capacity crowd at the handover function attended by among others district officials from the Education Department, members of the School Governing Body and local Ward Committee, school teachers and neighbouring communities on Monday. The KZN Treasury head further motivated the community to be good custodians of the school’s infrastructure and to encourage people to be hands-on in the development of their communities. School Governing Body Chairperson, Thema Mbuyazi thanked Provincial Treasury for their assistance, adding that they would now be able to serve food to children with dignity and in a better structure.

‘Our other concern is that most of the children are from poor families yet they have to pay school fees. ‘We would like government to re-look at the quintile of this school and consider changing this school to be a no fee school,’ said Mbuyazi. Education District Manager Thanduyise Motha said the department was re-looking at the quintile system at national level and added that challenges raised by parents and the principal at the local school would be addressed.