Education boost for Sithembile

The South African government has made education the number one priority in South Africa, and, with that goal in mind, opened adult education centres around the country for people who have never been to school or those who left school due to unfortunate circumstances. This is to be able to give them equal opportunities in life.
Residents of Sithembile, Glencoe are fortunate that the government has heard their cries and opened another Public Adult Learning Centre (PALC) at Empisini Primary School. The centre started operating in February with a registration of 23 students. Mrs Dumisile Sithebe, Centre Manager, said the number of students has risen to 37 since February.
Mrs Sithebe is the person who initially contacted the Education Department’s district office about the issue of adult people having to walk a distance to attended school in the afternoons. She was previously employed at the Nokukhanya PALC.
She said, “I noticed that there were a number of students who lived near the Empisini School but attended Amakhemfundo Primary, where the Nokukhanya centre is located. Many would not come to school in winter because it is very cold and far to walk in the evenings, and many students were women.” She then approached the Education Department, asking that they open another centre for those people living near Empisini.
The centre offers level two and level four classes, and Mrs Sithebe said they will soon implement Grade 13 classes as well. They offer subjects such as English, IsiZulu, Integrated Studies and Mathematics (only at level two).
Mrs Sithebe said in order for the educators and the students to achieve great results, it is important that they respect and listen to each other. She is working with two colleagues, Mrs Hlengiwe Mothloung and Miss Lungiswa Zulu, and urges people not to hesitate to come and register: “It is completely free of charge,” she concluded.