GIYANI: Local primary school gets a nutrition centre
Khakhala Primary School, will soon have a proper place to store and prepare learners' food.
The school outside Giyani in the Klein Letaba Circuit received R980 000 cash donation from the Embassy of Japan to build a nutrition centre.
The principal of the school which caters for 460 learners, Sevha Makhuvele says the centre will consist of a dining area, preparatory room and storage area.
He says part of the money will be used to buy gas cylinders, stoves and a refrigerator.
“Currently learners’ food is prepared in three-legged pots using fire in a small open kitchen and stored in a small room with poor ventilation,” said Makhubele.
According to the School Governing Body Chairperson, Yuza Maluleke, the school applied for the funds in February 2018 after realising that the school had no proper place to store and prepare learners’ food.
He indicated that the facility will be useful towards providing learners with a healthy decent meal.
“If things go according to plan, money will be raised to supplement the food provided by the Department of Education through its National School Nutrition Porgramme (NSNP).
In this way learners in the lower grades might be served light breakfast in the morning before they start with lessons,” said Yuza.
He said the majority of learners come to school without having eaten breakfast and it makes it difficult for them to concentrate in class because they are hungry.
He further indicated that as SGB members and the community at large, would like to thank the principal, Makhuvele for his vision to ensure that the school has a conducive environment to provide healthy food, quality teaching and learning to the children.
The construction of the centre is done by Nhluvukiso Development Consultants (PTY) LTD owned by a local young entrepreneur, Ntshuxeko Liberty Baloyi.
According to the contractor’s programme, the construction is left with two months to be completed.
The company has provided temporary job opportunities to the local people especially the youth.
According to the Community Liaison Officer (CLO), Tracy Maluleke a BCom graduate from the University of Limpopo, the project gave her and others an opportunity to put food on the table since they are unemployed.
