Maale primary located in Makhubidung village, has 575 leaners most of them from poor families. School principal, Patricia Magabane said that some learners came to school wearing shoes with no soles and trousers without zips. “We had learners that come to school in winter without jerseys” said Magabane.
According to the Magabane who joined the school in 2013 the situation affected the quality of learning at the school.
She said a donor who wants to remain anonymous for now came to the school’s rescue with a school uniform donation worth over R30 000. “More school uniforms are still to come during the course of the year, because the donor’s aspiration is for every learner to get a uniform” said Magabane. The neediest learners were prioritised and given uniforms first. She said that the donor bought 380 items which included trousers, shirts, skirts, shoes and socks. Addressing the gathering, Mangena who served as the ward councillor for 10 years in ward 27 which also covers Makhubidung said that education was an enemy of poverty. He said that when a child gets an education their home becomes peaceful and that there is progress. He also expressed gratitude on behalf of the municipality to the donor, saying the donor was an practical example of meaning of the phrase “giving back to the community”.
Also speaking the ceremony, headman Maake told the learners that “education was one thing that no one will never take away from you”. The headman anchored the words of Thepelo Ndou from the Department of Higher Education who said “They can take your business, your house or money but they can never take your education” The school is also a beneficiary of the national lotteries funding programme which allocated R270 000 to build sports facilities which cater for netball, volleyball and softball. This is expected to motivate physical activity among learners. “A healthy body means a healthy mind,” said Magabane Speaking on behalf of parents, Miss Skokotlo seemed to struggle with words due to excitement repeating the words “we are happy within ourselves?” The enrolment at the school has also grown from 270 in 2013 to 575 this year. She said the school was in poor community and that learners faced challenges such as domestic abuse, however, the school had ample support from the community. “Even before this event parents came here to clean the school, we also have support from the traditional leaders, Headman Majoro attends all our meetings and events” said the principal. The school is a feeder for Pherehla Maake High school and the school is performing better than most schools due to the quality of learners that the school produces.
