Light shines bright for village pupils with new solar-powered container classroom
The solar-powered light shone brightly in Taweni village as small children gathered for the opening of a new classroom for a local preschool.
With the help of Fedex Express, the pupils now have a bright and comfortable place in which to learn and play.
They previously had to do some schooling outdoors, regardless of the weather, but the new classroom not only provides much-needed space, it also protects them from scorching days and the sometimes cold and rainy weather.
The school, part of the Wana Johnson Development Project, received the donation of a container classroom worth around R300,000 from international transport company Fedex Express. This will house a Montessori school in the small village.
School chair and family representative Agnes Mposula said they were excited about the donation.
“Early childhood development is vital for children, providing a critical foundation for their later school and professional careers.
“The new classroom will help us formalise our education programme and lay a foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy in our community.
“Before the donation, there was no furniture and pupils had to write on their laps.
“The past two years have been difficult. We had to run two grades in the same classroom and also had pupils studying under a tree due to space constraints.
“They were struggling to concentrate while they sat in the maths class and could also hear isixhosa [coming from] across the room. And when it came to learning outside, it was very difficult as the noise levels were high and the pupils had to move around to get out of the sun on hot days.”
Mposula explains that the preschool also operates as an aftercare facility for grades 4 to 7. She said the lack of infrastructure affected the quality of education in the area.
The district of Taweni village is home to three primary schools, two high schools and four early childhood development (ECD) centres, all grappling with the challenges of overcrowded classrooms accommodating between 80 to 100 pupils.
“This significantly affects the overall quality of education,” Mposula said.
“Now there will be no disruptions, concentration will improve and this will bring about consistency and stability. Teachers are also happy because they have a professional environment to work in.
“We are fortunate to have a solar system, meaning we will be able to provide the best technology to offer good quality education.”
Natasha Parmanand, MD operations for Fedex Express Subsaharan Africa, said: “We believe education is the key to unlocking opportunities for our children.
“Through our collaboration with the Wana Johnson Development Project, we are not just bridging educational gaps, we are helping create a brighter future for both the children and the entire community.”