The Gauteng Provincial Legislature and Chinese Consulate have formed a partnership aimed at combatting a shortage of furniture at Kaalfontein Primary School.
The partnership donated 550 chairs and 75 desks to the school in Midrand on 21 October.
Chairperson of committees, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and consul general of China in Johannesburg, Ruan Ping, led this initiative aimed to aid the provision of quality education at the school.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said she is pleased that they were finally able to make this donation even though the school still needs more assistance from the government. She said she hoped that this partnership was the start of a new and good working relationship with the Chinese Consulate.
Ping delivered the keynote address and stated that since 2004, the consulate has been working with the provincial government to launch social responsibility platforms in communities, with the hope of creating sustainable development in society.
The handover ceremony was also attended by Ward councillor Raisebe Matsemela, representatives of the University of Johannesburg and the school’s governing body.
Kaalfontein Primary School accommodates thousands of pupils in classrooms made out of metal containers. The government’s efforts to intervene and build a brick and mortar structure for the school haven’t yet succeeded.
The school was experiencing a shortage of chairs and desks, and the partnership between legislature and the consulate has addressed this challenge through the necessary donations.
School principal, Selaelo Mohale confirmed that due to the shortage of tables and chairs, three pupils were forced to share one desk, so he is excited and grateful for the donation.
The legislature hopes that the improvement in the classroom conditions will provide a conducive environment for learning and development.
The ongoing partnership between the legislature and the Chinese Consulate is directed towards a common goal of achieving good educational outcomes that are responsive to community needs and economic development as envisaged in the National Development Plan.
