Facelift for Mamelodi school
A little-known secondary school in Mamelodi, which registered a 100 percent pass rate in the 2015 Grade 12 examinations, will undergo major renovations after top Gauteng officials toured the premises on Wednesday.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa pledged unparalleled support to Ribane Laka Secondary School in Mamelodi.
“I know how difficult it is for the teachers, to teach here. I know that those with deeper pockets are trying to recruit you to join their former model C schools. I am here to confirm on behalf of government that your school will never be the same again,” said Lesufi.
“When we come here to open the academic season of 2017, you will be in a very beautiful school, not a school were roofs are leaking and when rains fall you don’t know where to hide.”
Lesufi said by April, students in Grade 11 at Ribane Laka, and across the province, would receive tablets with data paid for by the provincial authorities.
“This year, all Grade 11 learners at this school and all Grade 11 learners in all public schools in Gauteng, will get their tablets by April. Maybe you think it is just tablets. You are going to have data bundles from 5am to 9pm free of charge, for educational purposes,” said Lesufi to deafening applause.
“When all Grade 12 learners in the province get their tablets, Grade 12 learners at this school will also get them.”
Lesufi said of the 60 000 tablets handed to students last year, most have been returned.
“To those who have not returned our property, that property belongs to the state. Let’s tell them, woo shem, return those tablets so that we give them to other children,” said Lesufi.
Ramokgopa said one doesn’t have to stay “in the midst of privilege” to succeed in life.
“You must be extra determined to achieve, so that you break the cycle of multi-generational poverty. You must be unflinching in your commitment to make something out of your lives, going into the future,” he said.
“You don’t have to go and attend an affluent school and you don’t have to be in the midst of privilege for you to succeed in your lives. If you are embarrassed in class, not wanting to ask when you don’t understand in class, you are still going to be embarrassed when you get your results at the end of the year.”