SANParks gives out schools facilities to learners
The science lab is meant to enhance science learning and teaching at the school with the view of improving the standard and quality of education especially in rural communities.
The South African National Parks (SANParks) handed-over a Science Laboratory worth R800 000 to Tlakulani High School at Mninginisi village near Giyani as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme which focuses on community development in communities that are neighbouring the National Parks.
The science lab is meant to enhance science learning and teaching at the school with the view of improving the standard and quality of education especially in rural communities.
“When in the past our approach to community development was more on providing access to benefits that accrue from our business, we have now added the issue of Corporate Social Investment which enables us to provide facilities and other resources that are identified as needs in a specific community for the benefit of the whole community”, said the Kruger National Park Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips on behalf of SANParks.
This science lab handover follows another of school facilities worth over a million rand which the Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Fundisile Mketeni handed over to Takheleni Primary School (kitchen facility) and Sibusisiwe High (science lab) Schools at Matsulu village in the Mpumalanga Province on Tuesday, 15 March 2016.
Phillips indicated that SANParks will continue to diversify participation by empowering groups of people in the local communities who have never benefitted from SANParks’ community development programmes. These Corporate Social Investment (CIS) programmes support government’s mandate towards community development and is also in line with SANParks’ vision “A sustainable National Park system connecting to Society”
“The country’s resources need to be spread equally amongst all the people so that we can make a contribution in building a new and better society of our country. We need to find a common and sustainable approach of channelling the CSI programmes in a way that contributes to improved socio-economic situation in our communities. This is the step that all of us must take in order to realize the kind of society that we want and that which the rural poor wants to live in, continued Phillips.
In 2013, similar projects in both Mpumalanga and Limpopo including the Administration block at Dumisani high school in Mkhuhlu, a playground to Takheleni Primary School in Matsulu as well as a computer lab at Mbaula High School outside Phalaborwa were also developed and donated by SANParks.
In closing, Phillips urged the educators and learners to use the new facility responsibly. “You are currently the guardian of this building; we hope you will look after these facilities and put them to good use. We want to see returns on our investment – into the future”.
