Focus Areas
Adopt a School
Creating an environment that fosters good teaching and learning while advancing excellence and equity in education.
About Adopt a School
Many rural schools find themselves in a catch-22 situation. Due to their lack of proper infrastructure, they struggle to attract good teachers, and as a result, pupil numbers do not increase. Such schools are always at risk of closure, and when they fall below the 130-student threshold, the government may decide to close them. We have adopted Viedgesville Primary School to help grow pupil numbers, improve education outcomes, and prevent its closure.
The school lacks facilities conducive to effective teaching and learning. It still employs a multi-grading system, where two grades share a single classroom. Furthermore, there is no security, no access to running water, and a notable absence of a library or recreational facilities for the children.
COVID-19 taught us that when classrooms are too small or overcrowded, it becomes challenging to observe physical distancing. As a result, schools have had to adopt rotational learning models where children attend classes for only 2 to 3 days per week. With limited resources to support children in catching up, the absence of online teaching and digital devices, students risk losing school days and are more likely to become disengaged and potentially drop out.
Parents often transfer their children to other community schools with better resources. In many instances, these schools are located far from their homes, requiring children to either walk long distances or incur transportation costs to reach them. Given that a significant number of parents are unemployed and rely on government grants, some children end up dropping out of the education system. If the student population at Viedgesville Primary School continues to decline, there is a risk of the school being closed, which would result in a significant educational gap within the Viedgesville community.
R_IGNITE NPC’S
Objectives
- Ensure the continued operation of Viedgesville Primary School, laying a strong educational foundation for the children of Viedgesville.
- Seek funding to construct a school equipped with facilities that promote effective teaching and learning, and that advance excellence and equity in education.
- Construct an environmentally friendly primary school, designed as a new generation school utilising renewable energy and innovative technology. It should include a library with digital capabilities, a computer centre, a laboratory, a hall, proper ablution facilities, sporting amenities, and a food garden.
- Bridge the digital divide between rural and urban children, providing them with an educational start comparable to their urban peers, preparing them for success in a competitive world.
- Foster environmental awareness and instil a mindset of planet regeneration from an early age.
- Establish partnerships between Viedgesville School and more advanced institutions for knowledge sharing, and explore possibilities for teacher exchanges, potentially involving educators from larger cities on a sabbatical or mission to come and share knowledge and different teaching methods.
Check Out Our Work
In 2021, the second-year students at Nelson Mandela University School of Architecture as part of their curriculum conducted a School Design Competition for Viedgesville Senior Primary School. Their architectural designs showcased remarkable creativity, and physical models were constructed and exhibited in Viedgesville on December 7th. The winning design was selected by the school governing body and the community.
We aim to create a motivating environment for the Viedgesville community and appeal to all who care about their well-being to join us in turning this vision into reality
Ready to make a change?