KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka officially handed over Vimbukhalo Primary School to the community of ward 14 in the uThukela district on Friday, during which he praised the efficient use of the budget.

Local traditional leaders and members of the uKhahlamba local municipality, including the mayor and deputy mayor, attended the opening ceremony.

Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that the entire project was completed at an estimated cost of just over R73,000.

The efficient allocation and responsible management of the budget earned praise from MEC Hlomuka.

The Department said Vimbukhalo now boasts 11 classrooms, two of which are dedicated to Grade R.

The school also features a counselling suite, a sick room, a storage room, a communications room, a fully equipped school nutrition kitchen, an administrative block, and a guardhouse.

“The school’s sanitation facilities have also seen a significant upgrade, with 16 learner toilets, five for educators, four for Grade R pupils, and one for learners with disabilities, in addition to a designated waste disposal area.”

Hlomuka said the school is part of a deliberate programme of infrastructure investment in education. It is aligned with the mandate of government that no province and no child must remain trapped on the wrong side of unequal geography.

He said the school addresses other fundamental needs, ensuring that young pupils have access to essential resources, including access to the nutrition programme, therefore allowing them to focus fully on their education and personal development.

Hlomuka said Vimbukhalo Primary is a smart school that is equipped with cutting-edge teaching and learning equipment.

“The department has invested in the training of teachers to integrate computer-aided training in the classroom. We are confident that this investment will yield the outcomes we desire to produce educated, skilled graduates who are ready for the new world of work,” he said.

The MEC emphasised that the school bridges the gap between rural origins and urban prospects, asserting that South Africa’s future is accessible to all its children, not just those from the suburbs.

He affirmed the department’s commitment to using available funds to improve children’s lives by enhancing school infrastructure.

“It gives us a chance to have good careers and opportunities of working at any workplace of our choice. By acquiring education, we become valuable sources of knowledge to our societies,” he stated.

Hlomuka urged parents, school governing bodies, educators, traditional leaders, and faith communities to safeguard the school’s infrastructure and equipment.

He emphasised the importance of protecting the school from vandalism and theft so that future generations can benefit.

karen.singh@inl.co.za

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