As part of educational development in the country, the SABC’s Phalaphala FM presented eight computers to eight rural schools that have showed improvement in their Grade 12 results since 2003. The handing-over function took place at the University of Venda stadium on Friday.

In 2004, the station’s educational road show visited about 15 schools in the Vhembe district of the Limpopo. After motivating the learners, eight of the schools did well and they were presented with computers on Friday.

The high schools are Rammbuda, which improved from 72,1 to 84,0% in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Tombolagole improved from 55,5 to 88,2% while Murude rose from 33,3 to 87,9%. Muhanelwa shocked everyone when they improved from 55,6 to 85,2%. Tshipakoni improved from 44,9 to 52, 2% while Maswie rose from 39,3 to 67,7%. Gwamasenga improved from 49,6% to 79,8%. The remaining school is Vhulaudzi which improved from 57,7% to 62,5%. The schools were identified with the assistance of the Department of Education.

“These computers will assist the schools in their daily activities and it is also a sign that we at Phalaphala FM are serious about the education of our children. The presentation will obviously motivate the learners and we believe other schools will be motivated to work hard after realizing that hard work pays,” said Mr Victor Ravhuanzwo, Phalaphala FM’s station manager, when presenting the computers.

Ravhuanzwo said the station is engaged in several initiatives to develop the community through education.

“In the past, we have handed over a lot of educational equipment to needy schools and we are still going to continue to give back to our communities.”

The principal of Tombolagole High School, which also received a computer, was over the moon: “We thank Phalaphala FM for their kind presentation and we hope they will continue assisting the deprived communities. The computer will assist us highly at our school since we are still running short of educational equipment…”