"We are here because our vision is to lay a solid foundation in literacy, mathematics and life skills and provide a quality learning experience. We will always strive to realise this vision." Those were the wise words of Samuel Ntsiko principal, Nombulelo Koliti, as she addressed parents, teachers and pupils at the launch of the new school library and computer lab this week.
"We are here because our vision is to lay a solid foundation in literacy, mathematics and life skills and provide a quality learning experience. We will always strive to realise this vision." Those were the wise words of Samuel Ntsiko principal, Nombulelo Koliti, as she addressed parents, teachers and pupils at the launch of the new school library and computer lab this week.
The road to computer liberation for Samuel Ntsiko started early in the year, as the Bushman Sands group and the education department's district information and communications technology (ICT) co-ordinator, Nikiwe Sotashe, put a group of local principals through a workshop on how to integrate ICT in the school curriculum.
After the workshop, Koliti was so intrigued by the whole experience that she made it her mission to provide her school with the necessary tools to carry it out.
Colleagues said Koliti hadn't sat back and expected the Department of Education to provide for her – she'd gone out and got donations. "Our principal does not talk too much – she implements things," said one of the teachers at the launch.
The new computer lab is kitted out with only six computers for now. The other 32 are still stuck in a container at the East London harbour as they are coming from Canada and are waiting for customs clearance.
The library was also launched on the day. Koliti said pupils couldn't read their home language and use functional English for learning, because the culture of reading was non-existent in their homes. "It is high time we reversed this situation and educated parents on the importance of preparing the ground for formal learning," said Koliti.
Not everyone was happy at Wednesday's launch, however. Grade 6 pupil, Spamandla Mbovani, said, "I'm not happy about these computers because next year I have to move to another school to do Grade 7, so I won't get the opportunity to use them." Pupils performed traditional dance items and the school choir sang for the guests.
