MEC for Education in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi and the CEO and managing director of Edcon, Bernie Brookes today opened a state-of–the–art science centre and library at Lilydale Primary School in Dlamini.
Edcon adopted Lilydale Primary in Dlamini between 2010 and 2013 as part of the group’s Adopt-a-School Programme.
The group has ,over the last five years, provided funding for school libraries, additional teacher and librarian salaries, a computer centre, permaculture gardens, mobile kitchen, play grounds and also annually donates stationery and uniforms to both schools.
Brookes said the company was proud of its association with the two schools.
“Our involvement in the schools went beyond the provision of teaching and learning materials.
“Through the Edcon Growing Hope employee volunteerism programme, our employees have taken part in contributing towards some of the infrastructures at the two schools, such as the permaculture gardens.
“The arbour month activities have become a highlight on the Growing Hope annual calendar and our staffs are very proud of their involvement with the two schools,” he said.
The Adopt-A-School Programme is aimed at ensuring school development approach, which provides support to improve teaching and learning through supplementary funding that bridges the gap between priority resources for teaching, capacity building and infrastructure development.
The company’s ultimate goal is to transform adopted schools into centres of learning excellence within local communities by creating an ecosystem of feeder schools from foundation phase to higher education.
Brookes said this will, in turn, create a pipeline of opportunities for learners to access Edcon leadership/bursaries and ultimately create a pool of talent for future company employees.
He said: “I hope the Adopt-A-School Programme will help plant a seed within the pupils about the exciting and wonderful world of retailing. We hope to see some of the pupils as either our bursary holders or employees in years to come,” said Brookes.
