Parents laud Assist project
ALEXANDRA - Parents of children attending the African Sports and Scholastic Initiative for Students in Townships (Assist) have commended the programme which runs supplementary after school and Saturday tutorials for Alex pupils.
Parents of children attending the African Sports and Scholastic Initiative for Students in Townships (Assist) have commended the programme which runs supplementary after-school and Saturday tutorials for Alex pupils.
Assist, which is an initiative of Wits students in collaboration with youth organisation, 14Thirty5ive, runs an after-school programme and Saturday tutorials at Pholosho Junior Secondary School. The programme involves varsity students helping pupils from various schools in Alexandra with supplementary maths, science and English tutorials.
Two of the parents who attended the programme launch for this year, Pauline Rammela and Peggy Mwale, praised the programme for improving the education of children in Alexandra.
“I have already noticed a huge difference in the performance of my daughter at school, ” said Rammela. “I look at her class work everyday and the marks she gets for tests and so forth, and I have seen a marked difference.”
Rammela said what she liked about the programme was its holistic approach to education. “The programme does not only teach our children how to solve complex mathematical and scientific elements, and improved English, but also seeks to teach them elements of life as well,” she said.
“I am happy that issues relating to substance abuse and teenage pregnancy are also tackled during the programme. This should produce a well-rounded student with the necessary tools to face the challenges of life.”
Mwale was equally proud of the programme. “My daughter is now one of the best pupils in class,” she said. “She continues to get awards after awards and I am quite pleased with her performance, and the impact the programme has had on her schoolwork.”
Musa Mdunge, vice-president of 14Thirty5ive, implored the pupils on the programme to take the opportunity and to run with it. “With this project, we are planting a seed towards the obliteration of poverty within our communities,” said Mdunge, a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg..
“Young people should take a stand and say I don’t care where I come from but I know where I am going. For a long time, Africa has been regarded as the lost cousin of the world, but today it is the land of opportunity. The same can happen to you [pupils] if you are determined to succeed.”
