Sandra
Barrett, St Luke's High School, has established links
at Thandokhulu High School.
Sandra, Ian, Lorraine, staff from
St. Luke's High School, travelled with Martin Phillips
to visit Thandokhulu High School in Mowbray. Martin Phillips
and Tim Arnold previously visited this school. We met
the Headteacher, Mrs Moleko and her staff who were pleased
to greet us and were delighted to receive the support
and gifts given by the Crossings project and St. Luke's
High School.
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From
left: Lorraine Beresford, Martin Phillips, Ian
Potts, Crossings Team together with Mrs Moleko,
Headteacher, Mr Sibeko Deputy Headteacher and
Mr Tsoli, Head of English at Thandokhulu High
School, Mowbray, Cape Town SA
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We then spent time viewing
the school and interviewing pupils. This is a black school
with 900 pupils. The school is situated within the city
of Cape Town and buses transport pupils from Langa, Guguletu
and Khayelitsha townships to this site. The school Thandokhulu,
originated to cater for the disadvantaged communities
of squatter camps in Khayelitsha. The primary school worked
a shift from 7 - 12 am and the secondary school from 12
- 5 p.m. There was no room for expansion and the needs
of the children were not being met in these difficult
circumstances. Parents saw the need for a new school and
squatted in the present empty buildings until they had
government permission to start their new school in these
disused buildings on this current strategic site. Thandokhulu
was opened in 1992 with 1500 pupils. Today the school
has reduced in size to 900 pupils with 26 teaching staff.
The average class size is 40 - 45 and the school budget,
which is continually being reduced is 48,000 Rand per
year. The distances the children travel and the bus service
does cause disruption to the start of the day. Some children
leave their homes very early at approx. 6.00am and at
other times buses are delayed because of city traffic
problems. The expectations of the pupils is high and examination
results are improving.
The school has a secure area
for its library and ICT equipment. The staff are optimistic
about their school and its future. Soccer, rugby and cricket
are their sporting activities. All pupils learn English,
Afrikaans and Xhosa.
Thandokhulu High School was
in need of decoration and a library was in the process
of being furbished and equipped. We were able through
the Crossings project money, donated by Devon County Council,
to give an admissions desk and have shelving built for
their library. One of the vital necessities we were able
to purchase for the school were three soap dispensers
which are very important to combat the killer disease
of diphtheria. St Luke's High School gave extra books
for their school library and sports bibs and footballs
for their sports teams.
I taught a class of 45 pupils,
grade 8 with my colleague Lorraine Beresford and we were
surprised to see the varying ages mixed in the one class.
We spoke to 15 year olds who were sitting next to 24 year
olds. Why? Education is the key to success and black people
are willing to return to school at any age and study.
The years of apartheid have left black communities educationally
disadvantaged and now when the opportunity to study is
apparent the take up is positive whatever the age group.
Back to school and learn to succeed in the New South Africa
is an option which is positively encouraged for socio-economic
mobility and career prospects for black people.
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Thandokhulu
students reading the Crossings newspaper
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It was a different experience
for myself and Lorraine to teach this mix of age groups,
but we soon settled into the swing of the lesson, which
was to distribute the Crossings newspaper and talk about
life in England to the students and answer their questions.
They in return wrote letters for us to take to schools
in Devon and we will have replies for them from our students
in January, after their break. Ian interviewed students
individually about their career expectations, which we
have on video.
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Thandokulu
students talking about articles relating to
the Crossings newspaper
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Thandokhulu would like to link
with a school in England and St Luke's High School would
like to form sustainable links with this school through
English, and PSE / tutorial lessons.
We are donating a Pentium 166
computer, which has been sponsored by BT. This will enable
us to establish e-mail communication with our partner
High School, Thandokhulu in Cape Town - South Africa.
Sandra Barrett
In March 2000, DCS Advisers Martin Phillips and Tim
Arnold visited Cape Town
as part of the Media 2000 Millennium Project. One
of the strands of this
project was to visit three schools and make a video
with the children at
each of them for a school in Devon.
The children at Thandokhulu planned and made their
video for St Luke's High
School in Exeter who they've been linked with for
two years.
The St Luke's students are currently working on
their video reply which
they'll be sending next September.
