By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Maanakoe Secondary school learners received 50 pairs of school shoes and sanitary towels for female learners, while Katleho primary school learners also got 50 pair of shoes from the speaker to the Free State Legislature Ntombizanele Sifuba, who visited the school on April 26 as part of her back-to-school campaign.
Addressing the last group of matric learners of Maanakoe Secondary school, Sifuba said the learners must work hard and reach for their dreams because there are some prominent leaders who come from humble beginnings like theirs in the rural villages.
She encouraged this group of matric learners at this school to close this school in style by getting a 100 percent matric pass rate.
“Although we are unable to reach all schools every year, my office chooses those schools that I can reach out to and donate some school supplies to, and we have chosen your school for us to donate some school shoes and sanitary towels for the female learners.
“It is your right as female learners to go to the office and ask the staff for sanitary towels when you need them. It doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter the conditions where you come from, but it matters where you are going.
“You don’t know as we stand here before you where we come from, some of us come from the same background as yours but what is important is that your future is in your hands. Looking at this group of learners I can see that all of you are going to tertiary,” Sifuba said.
FS Legislature speaker Ntombizanele Sifuba during her back to school campaign in Thibela.
A head of the department of the school Sello Malunga said this school was supposed to be closed last year but it is left with only the last matric class of 36 learners and next year the school will be closed.
“We are left with this group of 36 learners and some teachers have already been transferred to other schools. Those of us who are left behind have a wish that this group of learners will score a 100 percent matric pass rate.
“Our vision is for this last group of learners in this school to become prominent leaders in our community and to become a group of dynamic young people who will create jobs and contribute positively to the country. We are very proud to have you here with us Mme Sifuba,” Malunga said.
Grade 12 learner Thembisile Mlangeni said: “I am very happy that Mme Sifuba is here to visit us today and we appreciate that she has donated to our school and our class promises to have a 100 percent matric pass rate.”
FS Legislature speaker Ntombizanele Sifuba giving a learner from Katleho Public school, alongside her is Morena Pula Sekonyela on her right and Morena Mokhalaka Sekonyela on her left.
On behalf of the teachers, grade 4 teacher Motlalepula Motaung told the Guard: “As a teacher at this school we are all happy to have a visit for this visit from the speaker of the Free State legislature. We are mostly happy for the donation of the school shoes because as a school we have learners who cannot come to school because they do not have the correct school shoes or uniform because their parents are not working. This gesture from the speaker is going to help with this situation so we are very happy.”
Meanwhile, Lindiwe Rakoto the principal at Katleho primary school said they feel blessed to be visited by speaker of Free State Legislature.
