Amathole and partners are holding a Back To School Campaign at Xhorha

Xhorha – The Amathole District Municipality in partnership with other stakeholders were holding a back to school campaign at Kotyana Senior Primary School at Xhorha today.

As the saying goes ” Children are the future” and to ensure that they perform at their optimum best at school and to improve their confidence, Amathole District Municipality( ADM) in support of the National Department of Human Settlements Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete, joined by the Department of Education, and other key stakeholders such as Gift of the Givers, Coca-Cola and Jason Sheper – MAC, is currently holding a Back To School Campaign at Kotyana Senior Primary School in Xhora, under Mbhashe Local Municipality today.

This campaign will see learners of the school from disadvantaged backgrounds receive a number of essential learner packages and other key educational essentials for the school.

Kotyana SP caters to 237 children between Grades R to 7 with a majority from disadvantaged backgrounds. boasts a modest building in deep rural and steep terrains. The local water source is a natural dam that only service low lying areas better than those uphill.

It is for this reason that Amathole District Municipality will augment the standpipes near the school with 5000 liter water tanks to ease the effect of water unreliability.

“We are one government, and the crisis that is faced by our communities is our collective responsibility to ensure that we respond accordingly as one government in line with the principles of the DDM. We should all be involved in the various aspects of improving the lives of our people, regardless of departments or ministry under which one serves” – said Executive Mayor Anele Ntsangani.

Another stakeholder, Gift of the Givers, also came in with their support to the school.

” With support from Jet Stores, we have been enabled to ensure that each child in the school receives key stationery items, school uniform including school shoes, as well as basic morning perishables just so children don’t go to school hungry , even if it’s for a short time” – said Gift of the Givers CLO Kwanele Damane.

Stating the purpose of her visit, Deputy Minister Tshwete said today’s programme is a continuation from ” President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Back to School campaign, that started at the beginning of the year”.

“The purpose of today’s program is to ensure that learners have all the necessary tools to study”- she said adding that – “however that will not be the only focus, more so following the challenges that the school and surrounding areas have highlighted, such as infrastructure, water & sanitation

rural incentives, centralisation of budget, substance and drug abuse as well as vandalisation” – she said.

The program concluded with the executive authorities handing over, school shoes, backpacks and stationery to elated beneficiaries.