14-05-2013, 07:35 PM
Pretoria – Learning at Nozizwe Public School in Stilfontein, in the North West, has been made easier with learners being given desks refurbished by offenders.
Correctional Services Minister, Sibusiso Ndebele, who handed over the 52 desks as well as 35 computers on Tuesday, said that in this way offenders were creating better schools and communities.
“As the Department of Correctional Services, we will continue, together with our offenders, to contribute to a decent education thereby making a positive contribution to communities.
“Offender labour is also being utilised to construct, and maintain, schools. Not only does this present offenders with development opportunities, but it also allows them to plough back to the very communities they offended. Working together, we can do more to create better schools and better communities,†said the minister.
He said the department was proud to hand over the desks and computers and commended its partners who made contributions towards the initiative, including Sun International, ABSA Bank, and Oranje Toyota.
Offenders have helped other schools throughout the country by cutting grass and trees, clearing bushes and cleaning the school yard. They also renovated a house for Christopher Bekisi from Gugulethu, Cape Town, who is confined to a wheelchair.
They also renovated a house for 118-year-old Themba Mkhize in Ezakheni, near Ladysmith. The renovations included tiling, re-roofing, installing built-in cupboards, painting and plastering.
Ndebele used the occasion to plead with parents, caregivers and teachers to inculcate positive values of respect, honesty and responsibility in children.
“As adults, we are role models for future generations and should act as such. Children learn more from our actions, rather than from what we say. Children will know their rights, and responsibilities, to the extent that we teach them to do so and, to the extent that we create a climate conducive for learning and growing.
“We must all understand that freedom, and rights, come with corresponding responsibilities. We all need to strengthen relations between schools, communities, government, education stakeholders and partners, business, broader society and other role-players to reduce violence in our schools and communities.†– SANews.gov.za
Correctional Services Minister, Sibusiso Ndebele, who handed over the 52 desks as well as 35 computers on Tuesday, said that in this way offenders were creating better schools and communities.
“As the Department of Correctional Services, we will continue, together with our offenders, to contribute to a decent education thereby making a positive contribution to communities.
“Offender labour is also being utilised to construct, and maintain, schools. Not only does this present offenders with development opportunities, but it also allows them to plough back to the very communities they offended. Working together, we can do more to create better schools and better communities,†said the minister.
He said the department was proud to hand over the desks and computers and commended its partners who made contributions towards the initiative, including Sun International, ABSA Bank, and Oranje Toyota.
Offenders have helped other schools throughout the country by cutting grass and trees, clearing bushes and cleaning the school yard. They also renovated a house for Christopher Bekisi from Gugulethu, Cape Town, who is confined to a wheelchair.
They also renovated a house for 118-year-old Themba Mkhize in Ezakheni, near Ladysmith. The renovations included tiling, re-roofing, installing built-in cupboards, painting and plastering.
Ndebele used the occasion to plead with parents, caregivers and teachers to inculcate positive values of respect, honesty and responsibility in children.
“As adults, we are role models for future generations and should act as such. Children learn more from our actions, rather than from what we say. Children will know their rights, and responsibilities, to the extent that we teach them to do so and, to the extent that we create a climate conducive for learning and growing.
“We must all understand that freedom, and rights, come with corresponding responsibilities. We all need to strengthen relations between schools, communities, government, education stakeholders and partners, business, broader society and other role-players to reduce violence in our schools and communities.†– SANews.gov.za