Khanya Khanya SchoolSchool

The evolving story behind Herne Hill School’s “adopted” sister school

IntroductionIntroduction

• At the end of 2005, Herne Hill School formed an allegiance At the end of 2005, Herne Hill School formed an allegiance with Khanya Primary School, a state school in Cape Townwith Khanya Primary School, a state school in Cape Town

• Our aim has been to form long lasting links which:Our aim has been to form long lasting links which:– Support this desperately poor schoolSupport this desperately poor school– Provide benefits to our children such as making them more Provide benefits to our children such as making them more

appreciative of the material comfort they enjoy and aware of appreciative of the material comfort they enjoy and aware of the world they live inthe world they live in

• This presentation aims to:This presentation aims to:– Introduce Khanya Primary SchoolIntroduce Khanya Primary School– Explain the history of our relationship with them, including Explain the history of our relationship with them, including

some of the most important support initiatives made possible some of the most important support initiatives made possible through superb efforts and help by our parent association the through superb efforts and help by our parent association the Friends of Herne Hill School (FHHS or Friends of Herne Hill School (FHHS or ‘‘the Friendsthe Friends’’))

Khanya Primary School is a public Khanya Primary School is a public state school in Cape Town, South state school in Cape Town, South

AfricaAfrica

Cape Town

It started in 2004 as a split-off from an It started in 2004 as a split-off from an overcrowded school in Samora Machel, overcrowded school in Samora Machel,

PhilippiPhilippi

Xhosa is the native language in the areaXhosa is the native language in the area

The nearest available facility was The nearest available facility was in a remote and isolated youth in a remote and isolated youth

reformatoryreformatory

As a result, all children had to come As a result, all children had to come to school by school bus (about 30 to school by school bus (about 30

min. ride)min. ride)

Since Khanya quickly grew to Since Khanya quickly grew to nearly 1nearly 1’’000 000 ““learnerslearners””……

Khanya in Nov. 2005Khanya in Nov. 2005

1 - 71 - 7

6 - 13+6 - 13+

983 learners983 learners

24 educators24 educators0 assistants0 assistants

5 support staff5 support staff

40 - 9040 - 90

GradesGrades

AgeAge

ChildrenChildren

AdultsAdults

Class Class sizessizes

… … the facilities became vastly the facilities became vastly overcrowded, with frequently 60+ overcrowded, with frequently 60+

children per classroomchildren per classroom

In Jan. 2006, Khanya was moved to the In Jan. 2006, Khanya was moved to the better facilities of a school in the better facilities of a school in the

coloured and much wealthier area of coloured and much wealthier area of MitchellMitchell’’s Plains Plain

Buckingham Primary School was relocated because it had Buckingham Primary School was relocated because it had only about 350 learners and was using only one of the only about 350 learners and was using only one of the

schoolschool’’s two wingss two wings

Although the children still Although the children still need to be bused to school…need to be bused to school…

… … the facilities are more the facilities are more accessible and much more accessible and much more

spaciousspacious

In 2015, Khanya will finally be able In 2015, Khanya will finally be able to move into its own premises in to move into its own premises in

the community where the children the community where the children livelive

Security at the new school premises should also be Security at the new school premises should also be improved as they are located next to a police academyimproved as they are located next to a police academy

The vast majority of children The vast majority of children live in shack dwellings…live in shack dwellings…

… … as about two-thirds of their as about two-thirds of their parents are unemployed and parents are unemployed and

therefore very poortherefore very poor

An entire family lives in such a An entire family lives in such a dwelling, usually without dwelling, usually without

heatingheating

Only a small fraction of children Only a small fraction of children live in solid brick houses such live in solid brick houses such

as theseas these

By contrast, the school is a safe haven By contrast, the school is a safe haven where the children proudly wear their where the children proudly wear their

uniforms…uniforms…

……and where their learning and where their learning amounts to a beacon of hopeamounts to a beacon of hope

The children work hard and The children work hard and take school seriouslytake school seriously

Typical day for this 7-graderTypical day for this 7-grader

• Get up at 5:30 a.m.Get up at 5:30 a.m.• Eat breakfast, wash, brush Eat breakfast, wash, brush

teeth, put on school uniformteeth, put on school uniform• Walk to bus stop at 6:40 a.m.Walk to bus stop at 6:40 a.m.• Bus leaves at 7:10 a.m. and Bus leaves at 7:10 a.m. and

gets to school at 7:40 a.m.gets to school at 7:40 a.m.• School from 8 a.m. to 2:30 School from 8 a.m. to 2:30

p.m.p.m.• Take bus back home, change, Take bus back home, change,

eat, wash disheseat, wash dishes• HomeworkHomework• Watch TV and play with Watch TV and play with

friendsfriends

From Grade 1 through Grade 3, From Grade 1 through Grade 3, teaching is essentially in Xhosa with teaching is essentially in Xhosa with

form teachersform teachers

From Grade 4, teaching is From Grade 4, teaching is essentially in English and by essentially in English and by

subjectsubject

The children are excellent The children are excellent dancersdancers

They also sing beautifullyThey also sing beautifully

Today, Khanya has about 1Today, Khanya has about 1’’400 learners 400 learners for 30 educators – about five times for 30 educators – about five times

more than Herne Hill for similar staff more than Herne Hill for similar staff numbersnumbers

KhanyaKhanya

Grades 1 - 7Grades 1 - 7

6 - 13+6 - 13+

11’’400 learners400 learners

29 educators29 educators5 assistants5 assistants

5 support staff5 support staff

40 - 5540 - 55

Herne HillHerne Hill

Nursery – Year 2Nursery – Year 2

3 – 73 – 7

260 pupils260 pupils

20+ teachers20+ teachers20+ assistants20+ assistants5 support staff5 support staff

16 - 2416 - 24

GradesGrades

AgeAge

ChildrenChildren

AdultsAdults

Class Class sizessizes

This was initially only available for the neediest childrenThis was initially only available for the neediest children

A major improvement since 2007 has A major improvement since 2007 has been the provision of a hot rice and been the provision of a hot rice and beans lunch by the Department of beans lunch by the Department of

EducationEducation

The children eat standing or sitting The children eat standing or sitting outsideoutside

After lunch, they wash their plate and After lunch, they wash their plate and spoon and keep them in the classroomspoon and keep them in the classroom

It is fitted with alarm, air conditioning and 28 work stations enabling entire It is fitted with alarm, air conditioning and 28 work stations enabling entire classes to be accommodated (through double seating per workstation)classes to be accommodated (through double seating per workstation)

Another important improvement was the Another important improvement was the establishment of a modern computer lab establishment of a modern computer lab

by the Dept. of Education in 2009by the Dept. of Education in 2009

Herne Hill SchoolHerne Hill School’’s link with Khanya s link with Khanya started in fall 2005 with the help of started in fall 2005 with the help of

School-AidSchool-AidOrigin of our relationship with Khanya Primary SchoolOrigin of our relationship with Khanya Primary School

• Regular requests from parentRegular requests from parent association FHHS to make schoolassociation FHHS to make school in 3in 3rdrd world charity of the year world charity of the year

• Definition of criteria (age range,Definition of criteria (age range, size, ethos, location, etc.) and size, ethos, location, etc.) and briefing thereof to School-Aidbriefing thereof to School-Aid

• School-Aid visit in Africa identifiesSchool-Aid visit in Africa identifies Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005

• FHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and launch ofFHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and launch of relationship through visit by Dominik in Nov. 2005relationship through visit by Dominik in Nov. 2005

www.school-aid.orgwww.school-aid.org

Supporting schools Supporting schools in emerging in emerging

countriescountries

From the outset, we felt that Herne Hill From the outset, we felt that Herne Hill children would also greatly benefit from children would also greatly benefit from

this linkthis link• Awareness of their own relative material wealth and Awareness of their own relative material wealth and

thankfulness for what they havethankfulness for what they have

• Realisation that material wealth is not all that Realisation that material wealth is not all that mattersmatters– The Khanya children can be just as talented and happy The Khanya children can be just as talented and happy

in spite of their povertyin spite of their poverty– Friendships and human bonds are also very importantFriendships and human bonds are also very important

• An additional way to experience our An additional way to experience our ““loving, caringloving, caring”” ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping and givingand giving

• Important element of becoming Important element of becoming ““responsible citizens responsible citizens of our world communityof our world community””, together with ecological , together with ecological awareness, appreciating nature, etc.awareness, appreciating nature, etc.

• Learning about Africa and the wider worldLearning about Africa and the wider world

• Appreciation of the importance of education and how Appreciation of the importance of education and how seriously the Khanya children take itseriously the Khanya children take it

Our material support started with Our material support started with donations of used books and stationary, donations of used books and stationary,

which have been shipped through which have been shipped through School-AidSchool-Aid

This enabled library corners in This enabled library corners in every Khanya classroomevery Khanya classroom

These books also formed the initial content of the new These books also formed the initial content of the new school library, which was established with our helpschool library, which was established with our help

We also sent curriculum books, We also sent curriculum books, which the educators appreciated which the educators appreciated

greatlygreatly

In 2006 and 2007, the Friends equipped the In 2006 and 2007, the Friends equipped the newly founded Reception classes, for which newly founded Reception classes, for which there were no resources whatsoever, with there were no resources whatsoever, with

furniture…furniture…

… … and all educational and all educational resourcesresources

The Friends also contributed for several The Friends also contributed for several months to the first Reception teachermonths to the first Reception teacher’’s s

salary until it could be included in salary until it could be included in KhanyaKhanya’’s budgets budget

Unfortunately, the Department closed the Reception classes at Khanya after Unfortunately, the Department closed the Reception classes at Khanya after a couple of years as it could no longer justify busing Reception children. a couple of years as it could no longer justify busing Reception children. However, Khanya should again have Reception classes once they are at However, Khanya should again have Reception classes once they are at

their new site.their new site.

Another example of support by the Friends Another example of support by the Friends included buying a science kit in 2006 and included buying a science kit in 2006 and

replenishing it in 2009replenishing it in 2009

As a result, the dedicated science teacher had As a result, the dedicated science teacher had resources besides blackboard and chalkresources besides blackboard and chalk

Linda on her last day at Herne Hill singing and dancing Linda on her last day at Herne Hill singing and dancing with Mrs Beales, Mrs Telford, Mrs Irby and Mr Carles with Mrs Beales, Mrs Telford, Mrs Irby and Mr Carles

The month-long visit in June 2009 by The month-long visit in June 2009 by Linda Mahote (KhanyaLinda Mahote (Khanya’’s Deputy s Deputy

Principal at the time) further Principal at the time) further strengthened our linkstrengthened our link

In 2010, Khanya suffered major break-ins In 2010, Khanya suffered major break-ins from drug addicted vandals, which caused a from drug addicted vandals, which caused a temporary halt in our ability to send material temporary halt in our ability to send material

goods and funds as their security could no goods and funds as their security could no longer be assuredlonger be assured

The vandalisation was compounded by issues The vandalisation was compounded by issues surrounding the previous Principal, who has since surrounding the previous Principal, who has since

resigned and been indicted resigned and been indicted

With the graduating class of Dec. 2007, we With the graduating class of Dec. 2007, we launched our own bursary scheme to annually launched our own bursary scheme to annually

support six gifted and deserving learners support six gifted and deserving learners through secondary schoolthrough secondary school

Bursary scheme outline

• Six learners are chosen annually from the three Grade 7 Six learners are chosen annually from the three Grade 7 classes based on:classes based on:• Academic performance and potentialAcademic performance and potential• Financial needFinancial need• Good natured and giving personalityGood natured and giving personality

• The chosen bursaries all move on to local state schools, so, The chosen bursaries all move on to local state schools, so, there are no school fees and transport costs to pay – only the there are no school fees and transport costs to pay – only the uniform, excursions and stationery; this amounts to about £80 uniform, excursions and stationery; this amounts to about £80 per bursary per yearper bursary per year

• This is provided for all six years of secondary school as long as This is provided for all six years of secondary school as long as the bursaries continue to achieve good grades and stay in the bursaries continue to achieve good grades and stay in touch with Khanya School; the Friends have generously set touch with Khanya School; the Friends have generously set aside funds to provide this supportaside funds to provide this support

The scheme is working well and is The scheme is working well and is meeting our objectivesmeeting our objectives

•The scheme has apparently had a The scheme has apparently had a major motivational boost for many major motivational boost for many learners throughout the school – not just learners throughout the school – not just in Grade 7in Grade 7

•When setting up the scheme, it was our When setting up the scheme, it was our hope that some of the bursaries would hope that some of the bursaries would eventually go to university and be able eventually go to university and be able to make a difference in their community, to make a difference in their community, thereby thereby ““closing the loopclosing the loop”” of our support of our support from the first school year through the from the first school year through the entire education cycleentire education cycle

•These hopes continue to become These hopes continue to become reality as Sibongile Fatyi, a bursary from reality as Sibongile Fatyi, a bursary from the first group which graduated in 2007, the first group which graduated in 2007, was accepted at University of Cape was accepted at University of Cape Town to study Applied Biology from Town to study Applied Biology from February 2013 with a full scholarship February 2013 with a full scholarship covering fees and accommodation; the covering fees and accommodation; the Friends are generously continuing to Friends are generously continuing to sponsor her by paying for weekend sponsor her by paying for weekend transport back home and pocket money, transport back home and pocket money, and the school provided her with a and the school provided her with a laptoplaptop

Sibongile with Linda MahoteSibongile with Linda Mahote

To conclude, we are proud to be To conclude, we are proud to be associated with these friendly, …associated with these friendly, …

… … studious, …studious, …

… … responsible, …responsible, …

… … happy, …happy, …

… … and lively …and lively …

… … boys …boys …

… … and girlsand girls

Thank you for taking Thank you for taking an interest in them!an interest in them!