Over the past few weeks, Potchefstroom Hospital has been handing out brand new mopping trolleys to five needy schools in Potchefstroom. The hospital initially bought the trolleys for their own use but, since they did not comply with the national co-standards, weren’t colour coded or plastic, they had to purchase new ones. They then decided to identify five needy schools in Potchefstroom that would be able to put them to good use. The hospital gave the trolleys to Padi, Loula Fourie, Ditaelong, Keotshepile and Vyfhoek primary schools.
‘We looked at where the schools are situated and we looked at the needy schools,’ says the assistant director of administration at Potchefstroom Hospital, Beatrice Motlogelwa. ‘We picked what we considered to be the five neediest schools in Potchefstroom, three of which are farm schools.’According to Motlogelwa, the hospital wants to promote hygiene and cleanliness in schools. ‘One of the most important things that we need to teach our kids is what hygiene is and to practise cleanliness.’
She says the cleaners at these schools used to have to go down on their knees to clean but these trolleys will now allow them to clean much faster and with much less effort.
The deputy principal of the foundation phase at Ditaelong PrimarySchool is thankful for the support, saying the hospital assists them a lot. Ditaelong has three general cleaners and one cleaner for the administration block and cleaning a school with about 1 180 learners can be a tricky job.
‘We think the quality of teaching and learning will go smoothly for us because we will know that the toilets are clean, the admin block is clean and everything is very clean,’ she says. ‘Cleanliness and hygiene at the school are very important because we cannot teach in a dirty environment with dirty surroundings. A clean environment is going to enhance teaching and learning so that our children can go forward.’
