Tholukwazi Primary School is changing pupils’ perspective about maths.
Local schools are benefitting from Thebe-Med Community Development which helps school to establish libaries and improve literacy and numeracy.
eMBALENHLE – Thebe-Med is funding schools through a programme which is aimed at improving numeracy and literacy skills for Grade 1, 2 and pupils.
The programme has been implemented in the Gert Sibande and Nkangala District and will benefit about 14 000 pupils in the province.
Thebe-Med works with the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
Local schools such as Buyani Primary School, Tholukwazi Primary School, Lifalethu Primary School, Zamokuhle Primary School, Osizweni Primary School, Shapeve Primary School and Allen Makhunga Primary School have benefited from this programme.
The Echo and Ridge Times have visited Tholukwazi Primary School to see the running of the programme on Thursday, 24 October.
Pupils and teachers were painting the walls with mathematics symbols, numbers and calculations.
Ms Priscilla Masombuka, teacher, said: “We are making mathematics friendly by taking it outside the classroom.
“We want to teach our pupils that mathematics is not a monster, but something everyone can master.
“By painting the school with maths symbols and numbers, we ensure that even if pupils are on break, they are playing with numbers.
“We are making maths fun.
“Thebe-Med has helped us with paint and ideas for this programme.
“They have also helped us to establish our school library which is a great help to the pupils.
“We ask parents to be involved in the programme by encouraging pupils to watch educational television programmes and to buy books and toys that promote critical thinking and studying.”
Thebe-Med also did free eye testing and screening at these schools.
Ms Cynthia Mataise, New Busisiness Development Manager, said: “Corporate Social Investment is about touching the lives of the communities we work with.
“Personally, we do not see it as just one of those company obligations that we must fulfil.
“We see it as a personal touch where we educate kids about hygiene and donate blankets to a needy crèche.
“We see Corporate Social Investment (CSI) as a lifelong impacted oriented relationship between communities and the company. “CSI must not be measured in value in terms of rands and cents, but in the changes that it brings to a community.
“It is also important to note that as the social dynamics of communities change, so does our model and we need a sustainable and adaptable mode.”
