Wits makes education fashionable at local school

BADFONTEIN – “This project has changed my life completely and I learnt more in this community than studying”. These were the words of Dr Jean Place of the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) who addressed learners, parents and stakeholders during the official opening of the Dr Jean Place Library and Resource Centre at the Klipspruit Combined School. With great anticipation to unlock “the imagination room”, the learners sang praise to Wits School of Education and the Kwena Basin Project, thanking them for an educational dream come true.

For many learners it was the first time to hold a library book in their hands and they were clearly very excited about it.

“We don’t have money to give to you today, but today, by giving you these books, your riches lie inside,” the circuit manager, Ms SN Mothoung said. Various speakers encouraged the learners to use the library and also stressed the responsibility parents had towards their children to encourage them to gain knowledge through reading.

“We want to change the face of the Kwena Basin and with this library we definitely are. Today we are making education fashionable,” Mothoung said.

Prof Jean Baxen, head of the school of education at Wits, furthermore inspired the children with wonderful stories and probed them to start creating a library in their own bedrooms from this day onwards.

The school would like to thank each and every person involved, especially Wits University and the Kwena Basis Trust for what they have done.