KOEKENAAP PRIMARY SCHOOL The concrete slabs of a R2-million resource centre, comprising a computer room, library and classroom, were laid last month
The Koekenaap community, in the Western Cape, and ASX-listed Mineral Resources Corporation (MRC), which owns and operates the nearby Tormin mine, last month finalised the details of a R2-million resource centre that the company is donating to Koekenaap Primary School and the community.
Concrete slabs have subsequently been laid for the erection of a containerised building solution, which will comprise a computer training room, a library and a classroom. One-million rands has been allocated to the acquisition of materials for the resource centre and a contractor, which will provide labour and supervision during the erection of the unit.
MRC opted for a containerised solution, owing to its ease of mobility, as the school is currently located on land it does not own and, should it be required to move to another area, the centre can simply be relocated without having to erect buildings to continue educating children of the local community.
Computers, teaching equipment, books, classroom furniture and other necessities for the resource centre will be covered by the balance of the R1-million.
Ablution facilities will also be added to supplement the inadequate facilities currently being used at the school.
Koekenaap Primary School principal Eddie Cloete states that the lack of infrastructure has always been a major stumbling block for the school. “When MRC approached us offering assistance, we requested a centre for computer training, a library and . . . toilets. We could not have done this without MRC’s help,” he says.
Department of Education chief executive specialist Marshall Johnson asserts that, for the first time, the 323 learners at Koekenaap and their families will have access to computer facilities and a much-needed library.