UMkhanyakude: Learners in the uMkhanyakude district of northern KwaZulu-Natal received a significant boost at the start of the school year through a back-to-school campaign led by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina. In collaboration with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and the Izimpande Foundation, the Deputy Minister delivered 132 new school shoes to Bathathe and Mfekayi primary schools, both of which are no-fee institutions dedicated to providing quality education to their communities.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Deputy Minister’s initiative also extended to KwaNxusa High School in the uMthonjaneni Municipality and Qantayi High School in the uMhlathuze Municipality, where essential stationery was donated earlier in the month. Inspired by this initiative, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and the Izimpande Foundation partnered with the Deputy Minister to expand the campaign, providing much-needed school shoes to young learners in the region.
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he KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education District Director, Thanduyise Motha, emphasized the importance of providing students with adequate resources from the foundation phase to ensure a strong base for academic success. Motha noted that the uMkhanyakude district has become the top-performing district in KwaZulu-Natal for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Class of 2024, ranking third nationally. He highlighted the district’s remarkable progress, having moved up from being ranked 75th countrywide.
Referring to the donation of school shoes, Motha expressed that such gestures contribute to the district’s excellent pass rate and motivate learners to study harder. He also believes it encourages teachers to commit more to the success of their students. ‘This shows that government delivers on its promises at the basic education level, and I thank the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation for gracing us with this much-needed support,’ Motha stated.
The Deputy Minister expressed her gratitude to the
private sector for their role in the initiative, acknowledging their contribution to positively impacting children’s futures. During her interaction with learners, Gina was inspired by their ambitions, with some expressing aspirations of becoming doctors and social workers. She encouraged learners to remain committed to their studies and thanked parents for their crucial role in supporting their children’s education.
Sihle Ngobese from the Izimpande Foundation highlighted the importance of supporting male learners in society, which led to the formation of the non-profit organization in 2019. Ngobese shared a personal story of being helped by a stranger, which inspired him to assist others through school resource donations.
The principals of Bathathe and Mfekayi primary schools expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation, hoping for continued support to further improve their school infrastructure and educational resources. The back-to-school campaign demonstrated the transformative power of
partnerships in addressing challenges faced by underprivileged learners, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to excel in their education.