Education is compulsory for all South Africans starting in the year in which they turn seven (Grade 1). State-funded schools are provided for Grade 1 onwards. The State also provides a subsidy for 5/6 year-old children attending Pre-primary Schools (Grade R). For the year ending April 2013 this subsidy amounts to R 9-00 per child per school day for children in the poorest areas (exchange rate www.xe.com).
Pre-primary schools have to provide buildings, furnishings, educational material, teachers salaries and all other operational costs out of the State subsidy and whatever funds can be raised by school fees, donations and fundraising activities. Many thousands of children receive no pre-primary school education, and enter Grade 1 without, for example, ever holding a pencil or seeing a book, giving them a huge disadvantage before they start.
Llwandle, near Cape Town, has one pre-primary school. Umnqophiso Pre-primary School was started in 1996 in prefabricated buildings by a dedicated pre-primary school teacher living in the community. After several years of no funding at all, the school obtained a donation which enabled them to build a modern 4-classrooms school. Umnqophiso is the recognised feeder school for the Umnqophiso Primary school, also in Lwandle, which has an annual enrolment of 180 Grade 1 pupils.
During 2008 CUF obtained grants from UK charities which enabled the school to build an additional two classrooms. The school now has six qualified teachers (including three teachers recently qualified with assistance from CUF bursaries) and 180 children enrolled. The school also runs adult education classes for parents, and provides after-hours care for children whose parents are at work.
For the year ending February 2013 CUF has committed funds for:
HELDERBERG ENVIRONMENTAL & EDUCATION PROJECT
Young people and learners in South Africa who live in disadvantaged areas have few opportunities to experience first hand South Africa’s rich environmental diversity. In addition, many primary schools and secondary schools do not have the funds to ensure learners obtain vital practical knowledge relevant to the biology, science and geography elements of the formal school curriculum.
Supporting Access to the Helderberg Environmental Education and Resource Centre
The Helderberg Nature Reserve, situated outside of Cape Town is maintained by the Helderberg Municipality and a volunteer organization, the Friends of the Helderberg. This organisation has established an Environmental Education and Resource Center (EEC) run by a paid education officer and volunteers. Funding is principally through donations and also from proceeds of a small shop run by volunteers and from course fees charged to those who can afford to pay.
The EEC runs one-day courses for primary and secondary school children in the Helderberg Municipal area. Courses are aimed at introducing children to the ecology, flora, and fauna in the reserve, in addition to wide ranging conservation issues such as recycling and water conservation. These courses provide important practical elements to the school curriculum.
The Helderberg Environmental and Education Project (HEEP) was launched in 2000 by the EEC with the aim of obtaining sponsorship for children who would otherwise be unable to attend EEC courses. Through donations received, HEEP provides:
As and when funds become available selected schools in the area are contacted and arrangements are made to bus children to and from the center. Each bus (i.e. each course) carries about 50 children. The average total cost of each course, including bus hire, amounts to R500.00. (exchange rate www.xe.com). Over 2500 children a year, who would not otherwise have been able to attend, now benefit from these courses, gaining vital practical lessons complementing classroom based learning.
CUF has contributed towards this program with funding of R1000.00 per month since 2006 (exchange rate www.xe.com), thus providing 1200 children each year with this opportunity. CUF has committed funds to continue this support through to February 2013.
Youth Leadership and Environmental Skills
CUF is providing funding to support the development of a Lifeskills Course at the Helderberg Environmental Education Centre. The course has been written by the HEEP team, and has been designed to take place over a weekend. It covers subjects such as:
These courses have been running annually since October 2005, with further courses planned for 2010. Each course has twenty participants and costs R8000.00 to run. (exchange rate www.xe.com)
SEWING CLASS AT SIR LOWRY’S PASS DAY CARE CENTRE
Sir Lowry’s Pass is a village on the outskirts of Cape Town characterised by high levels of long term unemployment. The Sir Lowry’s Pass Day Care Centre provides assistance to those in need of help living in the village.
A sewing class was started in 2009 in order to provide skills training, with CUF providing funding for a teacher and some additional equipment. CUF’s involvement in this project has now been completed.
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