The three-year programme, implemented by READ Education Trust, looks to sustainably improve the quality of education through the provision of resources to schools and by training educators to effectively deliver literacy and language programmes and curricula as required by the Department of Education.
As one of the 2014 sponsors, Tongaat Hulett has donated R188,000 towards the purchasing of six mobile libraries which were handed over during the two-day programme launch on 13 and 14 September 2014.
"The reading initiative will positively change the lives of 4,600 learners and 105 educators in the chosen schools over a period of three years," said Nkonzo Mhlongo, Tongaat Hulett Socio-economic Development Manager.
"12 of the schools selected for the proposed 2014 Rally to Read beneficiaries list, submitted by the Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education, were already schools with which the company had partnered on educational projects, including the provision of school infrastructure. These schools were subsequently all accepted for the programme."
"The schools include Elomoya, Queen Nandi, Ehabeni, Ohwebede, Nkunzemalunda, Dumazinkani and Maqhawakazi primary schools, among others."
"Our work in improving the lives of the people who live in the areas in which we operate is evident in our school infrastructure programme which, over the years,has seen Tongaat Hulett, under the Masithuthukisane Trust investing R12-million," said Mhlongo.
Thobile Mchunu of READ said: "Facilitators of the trust will be working closely with educators from the targeted schools. This close support is expected to improve the culture and quality of teaching at these schools and build on each teacher's repertoire of approaches to the teaching of literacy and other subjects."
In April 2013, Tongaat Hulett signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Ingonyama Trust Board, whereby Tongaat Hulett committed to implementing socio-economic development initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of the people living in the rural areas within which the company operates.
Since the signing of this collaboration agreement, Tongaat Hulett has engaged with various stakeholders and traditional council leaders within the areas where the schools are located. Engagement with the traditional council leaders of Macambini, Ntuli and Ehabeni revealed the desperate need for improved education in these rural areas.
