MEC helps to renovate his former school
To encourage learning in rural areas of Nkomazi, MEC Pat Ngomane started a project to renovate one of his old schools, involving parolees, community volunteers and former learners.
MASIBEKELA – Going back to his roots resulted in Mr Pat Ngomane helping to get Mdzabu Secondary School renovated and encouraging education in the far rural areas of Nkomazi.
The MEC of the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison completed his grade 11 and 12 at the school in 1985/6.
Ngomane said he started to check up on his old schools and was glad to see that many were being maintained and in good condition. He was shocked to discover that Mdzabu, built in the late 1970s, was dilapidated and decided to visit the school and encourage former classmates and community members to help restore it.
Ngomane said one of the main reasons for the project is to promote the culture of learning and teaching in rural areas like Masibekela.
He stated that learners have the right to learn in a conducive environment so that they can produce favourable academic results.
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The MEC visited the school last Wednesday morning to check on the progress of the project, and chat with some of the people involved.
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The project started about three weeks ago, with parolees and community volunteers working hard to clean the classrooms, install ceiling panels and paint the walls.
“The parolees are part of this project because they come from the community and have committed a crime here. This is their way of apologising for their wrongdoings and asking the community to help them reintegrate into society,” Ms Khabonina Fakude, head of community corrections, explained.
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Ngomane stated that he managed to rope in some of his old classmates, who will be donating other items once the renovations are done.
Both learners and school management were grateful for the MEC’s contribution. “Our school is very old and dilapidated and can hurt our learners at any time. We are very happy a former learner came to help create a conducive learning environment for our learners. We will aim to keep the school clean,” Mr Alpheus Manzini, the chairman of the governing body, said during the MEC’s visit.
