MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - A welcome donation of 15 computers was made on January 24 to the Masedi Combined Public School in Tshikota by the University of Pretoria.

Although a town school, Masedi Combined Public School with its 800 learners is situated in a very poor area and the school is not on par with the nearby town schools. The principal’s office under a tree recently made headlines in the local media. Despite the lack of administrative buildings and the fact that some 80 learners in the secondary school and 90 learners in the primary school are regularly accommodated in one classroom, the school has proved that it can perform. During the recent matric examinations, the school attained a 70% pass rate, all the more remarkable when compared to their pass rate of 24 % in December 2000.

Mr Piet Venter, Head of the Assets Department of the University of Pretoria, said during the handing-over ceremony that the university receives many letters asking for donations.

“We usually donate five computers to a school, but when we received the letter from Ms Marie Helm, we decided to donate 15 computers,” Mr Venter said. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including three representatives from the University of Pretoria, Mr P K Netshia, the local circuit manager, School Governing Board members, teachers and learners.

The principal, Mr A S Makhwathana, said that they would come up with a strategy to accommodate 800 learners with the 15 computers. He emphasized the fact that computers are an indispensable part of the modern workplace.

“We humbly receive these computers and we are going to be responsible in maintaining them,” Mr Makhwathana said. He also thanked Ms Marie Helm for her paramount role as the “mother of the school.”

Another highlight of the ceremony was when Mr Faizul Tayob, manager of Africa Hardware, announced that he would donate building materials for an administrative building.

“When I saw the photo of the principal under the tree, I could not but offer help.”

Mr Tayob said on Tuesday that Mr Makhwathana had already visited him with a building plan and that he would supply building materials, like door frames, window frames, cement, timber and roofing sheets.