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    You are at:Home»NEWS»Makana municipality dedicates Nelson Mandela’s birthday to education
    NEWS

    Makana municipality dedicates Nelson Mandela’s birthday to education

    Grocott's MailBy Grocott's MailJuly 20, 2023Updated:July 22, 2023No Comments3 Mins Read
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    (Left to right) Former Makana mayor, Nomhle Gaga; current Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Councillor Gcobisa Mene handing over donated books at CM Vellem School. Photo: Steven Lang
    (Left to right) Former Makana mayor, Nomhle Gaga; current Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Councillor Gcobisa Mene handing over donated books at CM Vellem School. Photo: Steven Lang

    By Steven Lang

    Mandela Day started at 8am for Makana Mayor, Yandiswa Vara and her entourage as they arrived at a local school in Riebeek East. The Mayor took a leaf out of Nelson Mandela’s book by dedicating his birthday, 18 July, to the education of foundation phase pupils at some of the less privileged schools in the municipal area.

    This year the Mandela Day focus is on primary schools aimed at promoting the culture of reading with understanding, especially in the lower grades.

    The Makana convoy visited Riebeek East Combined School; Samuel Ntlebi Primary School; CM Vellem Primary School; and DD Siwisa Primary School.

    Pupils at CM Vellem school put on a show for visitors on Mandela Day. Photo: Steven Lang
    Pupils at CM Vellem school put on a show for visitors on Mandela Day. Photo: Steven Lang

    Mandela always did his best to encourage education for young people because he believed, “That education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

    On the wall at Nombulelo Secondary School. Photo: Steven Lang
    On the wall at Nombulelo Secondary School. Photo: Steven Lang

    Following this reasoning, Vara and several Makana Councillors dedicated the special day to handover story books funded by Standard Bank as part of a programme called the Little Library Books for Primary schools.

    The books are written in mother tongue languages because stories in these languages, particularly isiXhosa, are difficult to come by. Principal of the CM Vellem school, Khululikhaya Mfecane said, “Mother tongue learning is important, particularly at the foundation phase because for a learner to speak another language fluently, he or she must learn to speak their own language first”.

    Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Principal of the CM Vellem school, Khululikhaya Mfecane, with the Little Library Numeracy Kit handed over to the school. Photo: Steven Lang
    Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Principal of the CM Vellem school, Khululikhaya Mfecane, with the Little Library Numeracy Kit handed over to the school. Photo: Steven Lang

    The Little Library Life Skills Kit focuses on promoting life skills to learners between five and nine years of age. Each school received two sets of Little Library Life Skills Kit (i.e. two sets of 60 readers, 12 colour posters, and one teacher’s guide for each school).

    Standard Bank’s Rodgers Siyengo said, “We’re going to come back and assist teachers, to guide them to teach the kids in terms of reading and make sure they read with understanding”.

    After donating books at the four primary schools, Vara visited Nombulelo Senior Secondary School, to donate a huge electronic keyboard in recognition of the school’s performance at the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod.

    Standard Bank’s Rodgers Siyengo; Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Standard Bank’s Rodgers Siyengo with Little Library Kits. Photo: Steven Lang
    Standard Bank’s Rodgers Siyengo; Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Standard Bank’s Rodgers Siyengo with Little Library Kits. Photo: Steven Lang
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