It was celebration time when Sesifikile Primary School was announced as the 2016 winner of the annual school beautification project at Siyathokoza Primary School on Thursday, 24 November.
KwaGumbi Primary scooped second place overall, followed by Siyathokoza Primary, Ntinyane Primary and KwaThambo Primary.
Most improved school went to Ngwenya Msomi Primary, Babongile Msomi won best co-ordinator and Velile Malevu, the principal of host school Siyathokoza won best supportive principal.
Phindela Primary had the neatest classrooms, Sesifikile won most hygienic toilets, Ntinyane scooped best lawn, Sophie Phewa Primary was judged to have the best gardens and Sesifikile added to its prizes with most hygienic kitchen.
The project, which has been running for an incredible 24 years, rewards schools for going the extra mile to clean-up and beautify their properties.
This year 18 schools participated. Six judges from the project’s committee make three unannounced visits to the participating schools throughout the year to vote on the neatest classrooms, most hygienic toilets, best lawn, best gardens and most hygienic kitchen.
“We also included best supporting principal, best co-ordinator and most improved school categories to make it more of a success,” said Nomali Msomi of Acacia, one of the project’s sponsors, along with Makro, Dulux and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.
“We are really proud of this project. You can easily tell which schools are participating, because they are simply outstanding.”
Over the years the project has gone from strength to strength due to partnerships with the Department of Health, Durban Solid Waste, eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs.
The aim of the school beautification project is to promote a healthy living environment in schools and to encourage as well as create awareness around these issues among teachers, principals and pupils.
The project’s committee members thank their generous sponsors for helping to make this year’s competition another resounding success.
