As part of showing love and support to the community of OR Tambo District, staff from Mthatha Express recently donated reading books to the Bright Future Educational Academy in Mthatha, with the aim of promoting education.
An administration officer from Bright Future Educational Academy, Sive Mayedwa, said that they were happy because even though they had some of the books, their learners were tired of reading them, so they wanted something new.
“We used to ask them to read newspapers because they were in a stage where they were tired and bored of reading one thing. Now that you donated these books you assisted us a lot, because they will now manage to read something new. They will have an interest of coming to this centre now and again, because these books will attract them,” said Mayedwa.
He said they have a daycare centre and after-school programme in this academy.
According to Mayedwa, they help learners from the neighbouring Ntshele Primary School. They come to our centre to do their homework. We assist them in doing their homework, but we do not spoonfeed them; we challenge them to do their schoolwork. When they are done we then check if they did what was needed, and assist them where we can, before they take it to school.”
He said they also try to ensure that these learners are learning to speak English, because it is the only language that is common nowadays.
Mayedwa confirmed that even though they instil that they should speak English, at the same they make sure that they do not forget isiXhosa.
He confirmed that they are doing this free; no-one is paying. Mayedwa added that they also assist learners to read, so they can be fluent in reading Isixhosa and English.
According to Mayedwa, they are also willing to take these learners to participate in the competitions of reading and writing taking place in the OR Tambo District.
“Even though we are hosting it here at the centre, we also want them to be exposed so that they can gain more confidence. The challenge that we are having at the moment is that there are learners who are very fast when it comes to learning, we also have those who are slow learners. So, we are trying to divide them so that we can be able to give all of them the attention.”
According to him, the centre is not fenced, and they are using one pit latrine which is dangerous to children. He said that they make sure they accompany them when they want to relieve themselves, for their safety.
