China gives Durban school a helping hand
A SCHOOL that was damaged during the April floods last year will start 2020 on a better footing after a generous donation.
Clairwood Secondary School was given R500 000 to rebuild and it received a Mandarin Teaching Station from the Confucius Institute late last year.
Yugan Naidoo, the principal at Clairwood Secondary School, said he was grateful for the generosity of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.
“Our school’s relationship with the Chinese government began earlier this year when I went to a Chinese New Year celebration at the Durban University for Technology,” said Naidoo. “I was one of the few principals to attend. They were grateful and wanted to visit our school to see how they could help us.”
Naidoo said the visit came at a time when the school was struggling financially and recouping from the April floods.
The water, said Naidoo, was thigh high and many classrooms were damaged.
“I took the delegation on a tour of the school and showed them what we were working with. We are a co-ed trade school with over 1 000 learners and we use specialised classrooms.
“Some of the classes we offer include electrical, motor and diesel engineering, welding and construction. The classrooms had severe water damage and the equipment was destroyed.”
Stemming from the on-site meeting, he said Hisense, a subsidiary company of the Chinese multinational, had shown an interest in advancing careers in refrigeration and air-conditioning, and offered learnership opportunities.
Beijing Automobile Industry Holding Company, owned by the Beijing Municipal Government, also offered learnership programmes and employment to learners at their factory in Port Elizabeth.
“These contributions come as a silver lining after the tough year we have had. And in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it brings hope to the lives of our learners.”
Naidoo said a former pupil, Professor Anil Sooklal, now the deputy director-general for Asia and Middle East at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, was instrumental in networking between the school and the Chinese government.
The Chinese government also donated the Mandarin Teaching Station comprising 20 computers and printers. The government ensured that the pupils would receive free Mandarin lessons from next year.
Sooklal said: “This is not a donation. It’s an investment in South Africa and an investment in our people, in our youth, and that’s the greatest gift China has given us.”
He said the Chinese government wanted to uplift the global community, and Africa in particular.
“And we are fortunate that China is our largest partner globally today. They have a desire to share their experience.”
Lin Songtian, the Chinese ambassador to South Africa, said educating children was critical for the future.
“Education is an investment in the future, so if we are to develop this country, we need to develop the people first.”
He said bilateral relations between China and Africa, particularly with South Africa, were important to help fight poverty and ensure common prosperity.
“If you had the capacity to develop countries and families by yourself, you would do so. Anyone who can help Africa to develop the economy and its people is a true friend.”