BA-PHALABORWA- The Mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality Cllr Merriam Malatji is very passionate about development and she said the only way to realise this was when people were educated.
She and the ward councilors, Lulekani Education Circuit Manager, Tilly Baloyi, Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager, and Dr. Kgoshi Pilusa embarked on a Mayoral back-to-school campaign and monitoring and compliance check for Covid-19 regulations to selected schools.
They have visited the following schools; Lebeko High School in Mashishimale village, Masaswivona High School in Selwane village, Lepato High School in Makhushane, Vuxeni High School in Namakgale, and Matome Malatji High School in Maseke village on Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19 respectively.
The purpose of their visit was to encourage schools that are struggling with science and mathematics by providing them with calculators and mathematical sets. “Last year we conducted research and found that our learners are struggling with mathematics and science subjects. Poverty is a thorny issue since the majority of our schools are in rural areas”, she said.
The Mayor encouraged pupils to take science and mathematics subjects and work hard to reach their dreams.
During the handover ceremony, she mentioned that the Municipality has set aside a one million bursary fund to assist poor and top-performing grade, 12 learners, in Phalaborwa.
She also encouraged grade 12 learners to apply for the Mayoral bursary to further their studies. “As the Municipality, we are here to support you to achieve your dreams. Grade 12 pupils must contact their Ward Councillors for more information about the bursary forms”, she explained.
Calculators and mathethical sets were sponsored by MinoPex Pty (Ltd).
The Mayor thanked MinoPex Pty (Ltd) for sponsoring the Municipality with scientific calculators and mathematics packages to support struggling schools.
She also calls on other business owners to support the municipality with donations to help struggling learners. “There are a lot of poor schools around Ba-Phalaborwa that need our support. I’m calling upon the business sector to support our initiative to better the lives of young people”.
Mayor expressed her satisfaction and gratitude to school management of the schools visited for complying and adhering to level 3 adjusted regulations and ensuring that learners are screened for Covid-19. “We are happy that all the schools we visited today are complying and adhering to Covid-19 regulations” she concluded
