Furniture donation boosts needy school

at school, some of them have to sit on the floor – or on broken chairs and desks.

But an East London school received a much-needed boost when Gauteng-based furniture supplier, Vezokuhle Procurement, donated 100 chairs and 50 desks to Ebenezer Majombozi Senior Secondary School in Duncan Village last week. While the donation will not benefit all of the 800 pupils at the school, principal Loyiso Pakade said the gesture would make a huge difference.

Pakade said he hoped the donation would translate in to an improvement in the matric pass rate.

Despite its furniture problems, the school achieved an 83% matric pass rate last year – up from 69% and 69.7% from 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“One chair makes the world of difference. This has given 100 of my 800 pupils the opportunity to fully enhance their performance in the classroom. “This is a progressive action where we hope to see all 800 pupils receive the dignity they deserve by sitting on a proper chair and working on a solid school desk,” a happy Pakade said.

The rest of the school’s furniture is dilapidated and not user-friendly.

“Some children have to sit on the floor or on broken chairs because of the lack [of school furniture].

“There are many issues facing our school, such as the need for proper fencing and electricity,” said Pakade

The school’s Learner Leadership Council chairman, Solethu Xesi said the donation made them feel important.

“This shows that we are important as this generation of learners. This will make a change in our lives because we were sitting on uncomfortable and broken chairs before.

“At times you find two pupils on one chair while some sit on buckets. That is not how a school should be,” said Xesi. Vezokuhle Procurement chief executive Moses Kunene.

“We saw a need to open a branch in the province. You cannot go and look for tenders in government without blessing them first. Five schools will benefit from this sponsorship,” said Kunene.

“We requested a list from the department and they responded to us within a week. We knew that our work had begun.”

Old Mutual also donated seven office desks to the school last week.

“We would not have received those from anywhere else so we are grateful for the contribution,” said Pakade.

Provincial school resourcing director Sibusiso Lukhozi said they were aware of the school’s plight.

“Ebenezer Majombozi is a school in need that knocked on the office of the MEC’s door requesting school furniture. “As soon as we were about to heed to that call, we were contacted by Vezokuhle Procurement.

“We assisted the company in facilitating the hand over to Ebenezer Majombozi, an act which we highly commend and are excited about.

“We will communicate on the next four schools who will receive a furniture donation,” he said. —