Crystal High and Welcome Primary schools received donations from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including 40 tablets for each school, whiteboards, first-aid kits, textbooks, school shoes, school bags, tables and chairs, and scientific calculators.
The two schools were the only beneficiaries in the Western Cape from a national project that was initiated by UAE ambassador Mahesh Alhameli.
The handover was done by the UAE deputy ambassador Fatima Al-Suwaidi, at Crystal High School’s hall in Hanover Park.
Welcome Primary’s principal, Catherine Solomons, said they were grateful for the donations, especially the tablets.
“Our computer lab could only accommodate 20 pupils at a time, and this meant that only half of the class could attend at a time. This often frustrated teachers, but now the whole class can benefit at once. Many of our learners come from difficult socio-economic backgrounds, and this donation will make a big impact,” Ms Solomons said.
Crystal High’s principal, Dino Abrahams, said: “Many of our parents cannot afford to buy scientific calculators, for example. We have moved away from blackboards ages ago, and we are so grateful for the whiteboards. We are especially looking forward to the interactive boards. This donation will definitely help our learners prepare for the future, as technology is the future.”
Buhlebokukholwa Sibanyoni, a UAE project manager, said 17 schools across South Africa had benefited from the initiative.
Ms Sibanyoni said she could not disclose the value of the donations, but she added that the tablets had anti-theft software.
Western Cape Education Department circuit manager Natasha Pedro also thanked the UAE, saying, “Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.”
Ms Al-Suwaidi said both countries’ leaders believed in education, and that the UAE had declared 2022 as The Year of Education.