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In celebration of World Teacher’s Day 2022, Edufundi is releasing a short documentary that celebrates the resilience of two primary schools in Durban following the devastating ‘triple blow’ over the last three years - the COVID pandemic in 2020, the social unrest in 2021 and the flooding in 2022.
The documentary, ‘Kwazilience: Celebrating Durban Schools,’ follows two principals who, despite the deep hardships, have ensured that their learners can continue coming to school to learn. Edufundi has worked with both these primary schools. Ms. Mohale, a Foundation Phase Mentor at Edufundi, describes how they adjusted and continued to support the schools through the crisis period.
The impact of unrest and flooding on schools
Mr Sokhabase is the principal of Siphosethu Primary School, where there are more than 40 learners per classroom on average. He describes how the social unrest took them “ten steps back”. School buildings were burnt and ‘every record that you can think of that is supposed to be at school” was lost. “I am still having that pain that we lost memories,” says Mr Sokhabase. His school also lost classrooms due to the floods. Nearby is Sifunimfundo Public Primary School. Mr Sibisi, the principal, recounts the impacts of the floods. Some learners’ houses were washed away in the landslides and they had to live in community halls. ‘The hardest time for me was the misplacement of learners,” says Mr Sibisi. At those halls, some children were ‘competing for meals.’ Many came to school with no uniforms as they had been washed away. ‘They also now find that even at school they cannot enjoy those basic facilities like getting running water at school,” says Mr Sibisi. “So that also put a lot of pains, especially to the lives of these young ones.” Aside from this, the school fence was damaged by the water, allowing people to enter the school premises. A robbery, shortly after the flooding, resulted in the school losing R130,000 worth of equipment.
The impact of unrest and flooding on schools
Mr Sokhabase is the principal of Siphosethu Primary School, where there are more than 40 learners per classroom on average. He describes how the social unrest took them “ten steps back”. School buildings were burnt and ‘every record that you can think of that is supposed to be at school” was lost. “I am still having that pain that we lost memories,” says Mr Sokhabase. His school also lost classrooms due to the floods. Nearby is Sifunimfundo Public Primary School. Mr Sibisi, the principal, recounts the impacts of the floods. Some learners’ houses were washed away in the landslides and they had to live in community halls. ‘The hardest time for me was the misplacement of learners,” says Mr Sibisi. At those halls, some children were ‘competing for meals.’ Many came to school with no uniforms as they had been washed away. ‘They also now find that even at school they cannot enjoy those basic facilities like getting running water at school,” says Mr Sibisi. “So that also put a lot of pains, especially to the lives of these young ones.” Aside from this, the school fence was damaged by the water, allowing people to enter the school premises. A robbery, shortly after the flooding, resulted in the school losing R130,000 worth of equipment.
The impact of unrest and flooding on schools
“We are lucky that we've got committed staff members,” says Mr Sokhabase. Teachers pulled together, working overtime to ensure learners continued to receive education at the school. The Department of Education provided three mobile classrooms which were provided to learners. Mr Sokhabase himself does not have an office and works in a temporary tent on a small plastic table.
Sifunimfundo Primary School wrote letters and asked for assistance. Donations were plentiful including uniforms and school shoes. A company supported them in providing JoJo water tanks and mobile toilets for the learners.
“We must work … The culture of working must be in our blood,” says Mr Sokhabase.
Ms Mohali, and Edufundi at large, continues to provide support. “The show must go on, if I may put it like that. Our show, which is working with teachers, working in schools, working together with everyone involved,” she says.
Left: Mr Sibisi | Principal at Sifunimfundi Public Primary School
Right: Mr Sokhabase | Principal at Siphosethu Primary School
“We are lucky that we've got committed staff members,” says Mr Sokhabase. Teachers pulled together, working overtime to ensure learners continued to receive education at the school. The Department of Education provided three mobile classrooms which were provided to learners. Mr Sokhabase himself does not have an office and works in a temporary tent on a small plastic table.
Sifunimfundo Primary School wrote letters and asked for assistance. Donations were plentiful including uniforms and school shoes. A company supported them in providing JoJo water tanks and mobile toilets for the learners.
“We must work … The culture of working must be in our blood,” says Mr Sokhabase.
Ms Mohali, and Edufundi at large, continues to provide support. “The show must go on, if I may put it like that. Our show, which is working with teachers, working in schools, working together with everyone involved,” she says.
About Edufundi
Edufundi works in schools across South Africa providing mentoring support to both teachers and school management teams. This is known as the Edufundi Support Programme. We know that education in South Africa is currently in crisis. Our committed and experienced team is working to change this so that all of our teachers – and in turn the children they teach – can indeed achieve their full potential.
Find out more at www.edufundi.org.za or follow us on Facebook or Instagram, @EdufundiSA.
