HSRP PARTNERSHIPS

National Government

Since the start of the Project we had been discussing the idea of a third tier model for schools in addition to the existing public and private schools, which would assist the HSRP and the historic schools to meet their objectives. This third tier would require full government support and funding, augmented by the private sector, alumni and other sources, but would also allow for full management autonomy at the schools.

A recent meeting that I had with the Director General of Basic Education has indicated that, while not an approved policy, the Department is looking at different models to assist with enhancing education at all levels within South Africa. It is encouraging that the Department is also looking at ways in which partnerships can be forged so as to broadly improve the academic output at schools. We will continue to engage with the Department on this subject as it is our conviction that meaningful partnerships can be created to bring government, NGOs and corporate South Africa together to lift education in this country.

I have also met with the new Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashitile, who suggested the creation of two levels of interaction to monitor and evaluate and promote the work being done by the HSRP on behalf of the Departments of Arts and Culture, Basic Education and Science and Technology. The one level would be a ‘political committee’ which would comprise the Ministers of the three Departments and the Executive Director of the HSRP. The second committee would be a technical committee and would comprise members from all Departments together with the HSRP professional partners and those responsible for implementation. While this initiative was welcomed as a positive step forward, to date no meetings have been held at either level and those that have been arranged have been cancelled. We continue to press for implementation.

The HSRP continues to operate on unspecified funds donated, however, this is not sustainable. We continue to press for meaningful support from the government sector.

An area of concern for the HSRP is the cessation of financial support for the HSRP from the government, broadly. In late 2010 the Department of Basic Education submitted a Medium Term Funding application to National Treasury, seeking operational expenses for the HSRP for a three-year period. The application was not successful. I met with President Zuma and discussed with him the issue of operational budget. The President charged the Minister of Arts and Culture to provide funding for the 2011/2012 financial year, however to date no funding has been forthcoming. The HSRP continues to operate on unspecified funds donated, however, this is not sustainable. We continue to press for meaningful support from the government sector.

The Minister of Rural Development, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, continues to pledge his enthusiastic support for the HSRP’s aims and has committed to doing what he can to support the project.

I have kept up an ongoing communication with the Presidency, since first briefing President Zuma and Minister Manuel in August 2010. I requested then that the President re-endorse the HSRP publicly, since it was a governmentinitiated and approved project from the time of its launch.

To this end the President indicated that he wished to publically lend his support to the project. Following a number of meetings held with key role players in National and Provincial Government departments, the Presidency accepted the invitation to visit Lemana High School on Saturday, 6 November 2010.

Despite President Zuma having to cancel his scheduled visit to Lemana to publicly support of the work of the HSRP, the event drew over 3,000 people, from dignataries and officials to ordinary members of the local community.

The rationale for selecting Lemana High School out of the nine HSRP pilot schools was that the school is situated in Elim in Limpopo Province, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa.

The purpose of the President’s visit was twofold:

1. To register public support for the Historic Schools Restoration Project, and
2. To confirm that Lemana High School will return to its original premises.

It was with regret that shortly before the event was to take place, President Zuma had to withdraw so as to attend a state function in Tanzania. However, he asked Minister in the Presidency, Mr Collins Chabane, to attend the function and deliver his speech.

The main areas of focus of the President’s speech were:

• The status quo of education in South Africa and government’s plans and efforts to address the contentious issues;
• The significance of the historical schools as centres of educational and cultural excellence;
• The importance of restoring these heritage sites in honour of those great South African leaders who attended the schools
• Ratification of continued partnership between the HSRP and National Government’s Departments of Arts and Culture, Basic Education, and Science and Technology
• Confirmation of Lemana High School returning to its original campus.

The President acknowledged the government’s recognition of the legacy left by Lemana’s Swiss missionary founders, which richly contributed to the formative years of pioneers of the struggle in South Africa such as Sol Plaatjie, Pixley Seme, and Reverend Richard Mahabane. He emphasised the importance of preserving the history of Lemana by taking the school back to its original location which was declared a National Heritage Site and a national monument in 2000.

The Minister confirmed that government supports education in partnership with HSRP and its pilot schools and is seeking to restore their vitality and vibrancy. He expressed a hope that the planned expansion of the FET curricula and hostels would enable learners from outside Limpopo to study at Lemana. The audience was heartened by the commitment from government, in particular the Department of Basic Education, to support fundraising and to endorse the HSRP’s funding campaign in the corporate sector. Minister Chabane challenged the Lemana community and the historic schools to:

• Seek to immortalise the excellence and discipline of the historic schools so as to inspire the current and future generations of learners
• Set enrolment targets
• Commit to global education initiatives
• Reclaim their historical roles of empowering men and women to assume various roles in society
• Include FET vocational subjects in the curriculum
• Emphasise to alumni that their attachment to their alma maters is not merely ornamental
• Embrace holistic values with education.

Subsequent to the function at Lemana High School, I met with the President who re-affirmed his support for the Historic Schools Restoration Project.

Provincial Governments

As mentioned earlier in this report and in last year’s annual report, Premier Kiviet from the Eastern Cape Provincial Government has made available R4.5 million for funding improvements at St Matthews High School. The work there is ongoing and we are delighted to be in partnership with the Eastern Cape Government. This is seen as important given the significant challenges facing education in this province.

Despite the assurances and undertakings given at the Lemana High School event that the Provincial Government would facilitate the school’s move back to its original campus, I have not been able to establish contact with either the Premier or the MEC for Education for Limpopo Province. We continue to try and set up appointments to expedite this move that would benefit the school.

Meetings with the appointed provincial task team in KwaZulu-Natal have ground to a halt. We have attempted to rekindle the process but with no success.

The Calabar Foundation

For over two years the US-based Calabar Foundation has worked with St Matthews in the Eastern Cape and, with at least one staff member constantly present on the school campus, have made a number of improvements. We acknowledge the excellent work undertaken by Mr Ben Pauluhn, who has subsequently returned to the United States. He is succeeded by the husband and wife team of Emily and Jarvis Jelin, who will be at St Matthews until mid-2012.

During his time at St Matthews, Ben supervised the installation of the computer laboratory with 60 personal computers, providing internet connectivity and software to support learners in their Maths and English studies.

Top: An original staff house on the St Matthews’ campus.
Above: Some of the ten staff houses restored through the efforts of the Calabar Foundation.

In addition, the Foundation has successfully instituted community outreach computer classes, held on Saturdays, as well as reading programmes taught by St Matthews’ learners to younger children.

One of the projects undertaken by the Calabar Foundation was the restoration of ten staff houses on the campus. With the assistance of R500,000 from the R4.5 million given by Premier Kievet towards renovation costs at St Matthews, these staff houses have now been fully restored and are presently housing learners while their hostels are being renovated.

The HSRP is proud to be partnering with the Calabar Foundation on this important work and hopes that the relationship will continue to grow.

St Chad’s College, Dur ham University

The HSRP is most grateful to be in partnership with St Chad’s who, following meetings with Dr Joe Cassidy, the Vice-President, have put in place an international placement programme where up to 10% of students and recent graduates currently mentor and teach at St Matthews for up to four months a year, some also providing in-service, subject-special support to staff.