Kayamandi organisation fills gaps in education sector

A local child care organisation has taken up the task of educating students from Kayamandi.

This is according to Wiseman Zondiwe, the director of Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment.

The organisation provides “holistic youth development”, according to Zondiwe. “We have got a learning centre already that has been running for years, but that learning centre is more focused on students who are not doing well at school.”

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Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment provides “holistic youth development”, according to Wiseman Zondiwe, the organisation’s director. The organisation noticed a gap regarding informal schools in the area, and will open an informal facility at the end of July, said Zondiwe. PHOTO: Takudzwa Pongweni

The organisation noticed a gap regarding informal schools in the area, which sparked the idea to open an informal school, he explained. Due to a lack of resources, Kuyasa will only start with a few children, stated Zondiwe. The organisation currently expects six children to attend classes but they “might take up to 10 for next year”, he stated.

The informal school will not target one specific age group, according to Zondiwe. Rather, any child that is not in school can join Kuyasa, he explained.

Kuyasa will open at the end of July, according to Zondiwe.

The children will be taught by student teachers and can participate in Kuyasa’s sports program, computer lab and performing arts, according to Zondiwe. “The idea is to develop the children holistically, not only in academics,” explained Zondiwe. 

While the informal school is set to benefit the community, it is challenging to find children to attend the school, as parents are reluctant to come forward for help, explained Zondiwe. 

“We know that there are a lot of kids in the community that are not attending [school] but the problem now is parents coming forward to register their kids,” he said.

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Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment’s informal school will accommodate up to six children for this year and could expand to 10 for next year, according to Wiseman Zondiwe, the organisation’s director. PHOTO: Takudzwa Pongweni

Concerns about informal schools

“It is troubling that we are in the middle of the year and there are still learners receiving no form of formal education,” said Anathi Canham, the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) candidate attorney, via email correspondence with MatieMedia. 

The EELC has been approached by a significant number of parents seeking assistance with the placement of their children, said Canham. 

“It is disconcerting that parents have to resort to establishing a makeshift school for their children to enjoy the benefits of education,” he stated.

Word from the department

The Cape Winelands Education District does not currently have unplaced learners for the 2022 academic year, according to Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson for David Maynier, the Western Cape provincial minister of education. 

“Any parent that has not applied for placement for their child for the current academic year should approach the district office immediately, so that their child can be placed in a registered school,” stated Mauchline via email correspondence with MatieMedia

All independent schools must register with the Western Cape education department, said Mauchline. “This allows parents to be assured that their children are receiving an education that meets the required norms and standards,” she said.  

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Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment is struggling to get children to attend their informal school, according to Wiseman Zondiwe, the organisation’s director. The informal school will take up the task of educating students from Kayamandi who are not currently in the formal schooling system. PHOTO: Takudzwa Pongweni

Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment is a registered nonprofit organisation and not a registered school, explained Mauchline. 

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