Page 37 - IDC

CITY PRESS, 29 JANUARY, 2017 5
business

A
PROJECT IN

PARTNERSHIP

WITH THE
IDC

ON THE MARK Tshivhase Secondary School principal Fhatuwani Maselesele PHOTOS: LEON SADIKI ZAMA LUTHULI PHOTO: SUPPLIED
BUILDING A FUTURE Opportunity for

marginalised
BRICK BY BRICK pupils records

steady progress

Celebrating success at this no-fee paying school inspires the community

of teachers and pupils to work hard and flourish. Setumo Stone ZAMA LUTHULI
business@citypress.co.za
visits Thohoyandou’s Tshivhase Secondary School Three young women from two of the 20 secondary
schools adopted by the Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) in 2013 were among the top
O ne of the 74 teachers at Tshivhase mathematics specialists to spend a week at Tshivhase performers in the matric class of 2016.
Secondary School in Thohoyandou has
Malamba Nemavhadwe, from Tshivhase Secondary
to assist teachers and pupils. “They even went to the
School in Limpopo, topped the log for quintile 2 schools
bought a new car and, as usual, says
extent of teaching in the class and we believe that,
principal Fhatuwani Maselesele, the
had it not been for the IDC intervention, the maths
(the category of the country’s second poorest schools),
percentage would have been lower.”
news calls for a celebration.
while classmate Nyandano Madiba came third. Anelisa
He says it was also hard to find local maths teachers
Every one of the more than 60 cars
Cape was second, in quintile 1 (the country’s poorest
on the makeshift parking lot in front of the school’s and, as a result, all maths teachers at Tshivhase are Marwanqana of Mariazell Secondary School in Eastern
main gate was welcomed the same way. from Zimbabwe. schools).
A round of applause erupts when the new member “If things stabilise in Zimbabwe, we are going to The two secondary schools, situated in two of South
of the “family”, a grand Ford Ranger double-cab lose them,” he says, adding that the school is actively Africa’s most rural and marginalised areas, are among the
bakkie, is introduced during a small gathering of trying to bring in teaching graduates who could learn 20 adopted by the IDC in 2013.
teachers in the staff room. from their foreign colleagues. Four years later, all but three of the adopted schools
A proud Maselesele says the school encourages both The five-year partnership between the IDC and registered an improved matric pass rate – which is also
teachers and learners to work hard and flourish. The Tshivhase started in 2013. Although it is expected to the highest since the IDC came on board.
idea is simple: teachers are among the learners’ end this year, Maselesele says he is confident it will This is the final year of the five-year agreement reached
immediate role models and when they do well, the be extended to 2018, particularly because the by the IDC in partnership with the department of basic
children get inspired. developmental institution has also adopted one of its education and the Adopt-a-School Foundation.
Later on, he says, there will be another celebration feeder primary schools, Vhufuli. A total of R52 million was invested to improve the
to congratulate two staff members who have been PROGRESS New and old buildings at Tshivhase Secondary During the programme, the IDC built two new infrastructure, as well as the
promoted and will be taking new jobs at other nearby School blocks in Tshivhase consisting of 12 classrooms and an academic and social environment, in
schools. ablution block, adding its name to the rich history of the adopted schools incrementally
One will become a principal and another head of those who have contributed to growing the school to over a period of time. This was done
department. “So, we are going to announce it what it is today. through the Whole School
formally,” he says, adding that a team was busy In the 1990s, former president Nelson Mandela also Development Programme, which is a
preparing for a small celebration later on the day. facilitated the building of 20 new classrooms for the holistic and sustainable model aimed
Last year Tshivhase attained a 92.3% matric pass school. Before that, the school, built by the Tshivhase ’’ at improving schools.
rate and produced the top pupil in Limpopo, Malamba traditional council, had only 19 classrooms to cater for Academic performance,
Nemavhadwe, despite dropping to position number six Grade 8 to Grade 12. One of the key particularly at matric level, is one of
among all the secondary schools in Limpopo, from Maselesele says the IDC’s construction of the new the programme’s key measurements,
Musina to Polokwane. classrooms contributed significantly to economic measurements as is the increase in the number of
Nemavhadwe, who started in Tshivhase in Grade 8 growth in the Vhembe area. The building material was pupils from poor backgrounds who
in 2012, says that from the beginning she has had the sourced from local suppliers and it provided local is the increase access tertiary education.
pressure to maintain high marks and it helped that jobs. He says the budget for labour on one of the six- The Class of 2016 produced the
teachers were available to assist even during their classroom blocks stood at more than R450 000. in the number best results since the partnership
spare time. However, says Maselesele, one of the old blocks in with the IDC initiative was launched,
“I had the cellphone numbers of my teachers and the school is falling apart and is in desperate need of of pupils from marking an overall improvement
everytime I called to ask for help they always renovations. from 82.1% in 2015 to 84.5% in 2016
answered the call. It helped because they believed in For the past five years, as part of its social poor – which scores significantly more
me,” says Nemavhadwe. contribution, the IDC has donated sanitary towels to backgrounds than the national average of 72.5%.
The first year acturial science student at Wits BRIGHT FUTURES Tshivhase Secondary School pupils in their female pupils every year in February. “They give each The number of learners who
University in Johannesburg says her message to the new classrooms donated by the IDC girl enough to last until the next February,” says who access attained a university entrance
class of 2017 is that “normal school time is enough to Maselesele. improved from 32% in 2015 to 34%
cover the basics but if you want to excel and aim for The other structure in the schoolyard is a 2 450- tertiary in 2016. Critically, the learners’
a perfect score you must take the supplementary seater hall built by parents through a building fund in performance increased from 49% to
classes seriously even if it means compromising on 2010. The hall is not yet complete, but it is usable education 53% in maths; from 65% to 70% in
your own leisure time”. and it is possible for the community to book it for a physics; and from 77% to 80% in
The no-fee paying school, in a deep rural part of small amount. Most importantly, though, it gives accounting.
the province, is among 20 across the country adopted pupils a place to sit their exams. The IDC programme focuses on the teaching and
by the state’s developmental finance institution, the He says the parents are important stakeholders in learning of maths, physics, life sciences and accounting.
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), through its the running of the school. Last Sunday, he says, the Specialists are brought in to provide training and
Whole School Development Programme. school had an annual general meeting and parents classroom support for teachers in the respective subjects,
“As teachers we work as a team and family,” says came in numbers, despite the fact that “it was raining and supplementary classes in these subjects take place
Maselesele, adding that “our boss is the learner”. cats and dogs”. during weekends and holidays. This explains the
“No one can beat that and we are here because of The school governing body also plays a key and improvement at matric level.
this learner,” he says. supportive role because they are elected by parents to Our schools managed a total of 891 distinctions, with
He says his staff appreciates that it is important to represent their views, he says. “They are the ones 36 learners achieving 80% and above in maths and 52
keep the pupil enrolment in the school high – who give us a mandate to run different projects. learners achieving the same in physical science.
currently standing at 2 375 pupils with an average of Parents still have confidence in us and that is why Although progress is being made, future interventions
70 pupils in one class. they are sending their children here.” will have to focus on addressing the apparent difficulties
“Once learner enrolment increases, the department He says the number of pupils increased learners have with maths and science.
will also increase the number of teachers,” says BRAND NEW Toilets at Tshivhase Secondary School “dramatically” soon after Tshivhase got a 100% matric The majority of learners still fall short of the minimum
Maselesele. pass rate in 2013 and the school built its reputation university entry marks required to study science,
“So, I motivate my teachers and tell them that while for good performance on the back of that record. technology, engineering and maths, otherwise known as
parents still have that positive attitude towards us, let Back in Maselesele’s office, a cabinet behind his Stem. These marks are set at 60% and above.
us work for these kids.” desk is full of trophies. The situation is the same in Very few obtain a minimum score of 50% and above.
He says the school also has a policy that teachers the office of the first deputy principal, the second In 2017, we will continue to offer matriculants
should “ideally” have their children attending deputy principal and the head of department. supplementary classes in these subjects to increase their
Tshivhase. Citing himself as an example, he says Maselesele says the learners do not only excel in chances of passing them with the required marks.
“three of my children are matriculating here”. academics, but also in other activities such as cultural We also anticipate that Minister of Basic Education
“My last-born is in primary school, but I believe he dancing and different sporting codes. Angie Motshekga’s new national Stem unit will address
is also going to come here,” says Maselesele. “Just look behind me. Those trophies, we did not the problem and contribute solutions.
“If you send your kids to another school and you buy them,” he says. It is evident that the IDC’s contribution to these
teach here, what are you saying? You may be sending “These trophies come to this school because of our schools is yielding positive results. All pupils benefit from
the wrong message,” he says. performance. We have so many that we need a special the supplementary classes and support from the IDC is
“So, the policy that we have adopted is that we stand to keep them because we are running out of intended to give these poor pupils a chance to succeed.
should try our level best to have our kids attending space.” It will take teamwork among all stakeholders to beef
school here. And my teachers are doing that.” He says more are still to come. up our education system and the IDC appreciates the
At around 11am, says Maselesele, more than 30 of “As I am speaking to you right now, we are still support it has received from the national and provincial
the teachers were expected to attend a meeting of the expecting more trophies because the district is yet to departments of basic education, as well as parents,
SA Democratic Teachers’ Union. But he says a holds its prize-giving ceremony.” school managers and pupils.
teachers’ meeting does not mean that school is out. Tshivhase is guaranteed an award for its matric pass Luthuli is the IDC’s divisional executive of corporate affairs
“In other schools when teachers attend the meeting CREATIVE Tshivhase Secondary School’s crest painted by pupils rate, the highest in the country for quintile two
it is the end of the school day. But it is a teachers’ schools (categorised according to the poverty rate), as
meeting and not a learners’ meeting. So our learners to Grade 12 without passing Grade 11. well as for producing the top pupil in Limpopo.
know that they will go home at the normal time,” he Only nine of the 20 promoted students managed to On his future ambitions, Maselesele points out that TALK TO US
says. “The first group of learners leave at 3.30pm and pass. at least six to seven of Tshivhase’s former principals Do you have any suggestions for improving
Grade 12s at 5pm.” The school’s mathematics pass rate also dropped moved on to become circuit managers. He is prepared matriculants’ university entry marks?
Explaining the school’s drop from position three in from 71% in 2015 to 69.4% by last year. Maselesele to follow in their footsteps, but “for now, I am SMS us on 35697 using the keyword LEARNERS
the province in 2015 to position six at the end of last says the situation could have been worse had it not enjoying it here and only time will tell”. and tell us what you think. Please include your
year, Maselesele says the issue of progressive pupils been for the IDC’s intervention. ) This series is reported by City Press and name and province. SMSes cost R1.50
contributed. These are students who were promoted During the second term of last year, the IDC sent supported by the IDC.