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12 March 2003
Standard Bank has donated R25 000 to Mdantsane's Fanti Gaqa Primary School, the 2002 Eastern Cape Premier's Excellence Award winner for good governance.
The bank has pledged R25 000 a year, over three years, until 2005 to assist the school's many development and educational projects.
The bank, in partnership with the national Department of Education, is also involved in educational projects throughout South Africa with emphasis on programmes that enhance Mathematics and Science skills in schools and tertiary institutions. In addition the bank has developed a programme that provides economic and financial education to over a million South African learners. About 300 Eastern Cape schools are beneficiaries of the project and a further 1000 will access it this year.
The NU 6-based Fanti Gaqa Primary School, a respected centre of excellence in the province, has maintained high teaching, learning and governance standards since inception in 1977.
Its efforts and outstanding management style were recently recognised when Premier Makhenkesi Stofile awarded the school the coveted Premier's Good Governance Award for 2002.
Handing over a cheque at a function attended by Buffalo City (East London) mayor Sindisile Maclean and top provincial education officials in Mdantsane, Standard Bank Group Corporate Affairs Director described the school as "a shining example of service excellence".
"From its humble beginnings the school has grown to a shining example for everyone to emulate. As an institution that believes in encouraging and rewarding excellence, Standard Bank is pleased to support the school to continue its good work.
"We view education as a critical step towards the growth and development of our nation. Our donation falls in line with our social investment programmes that are aimed at equipping learners with skills that will help them make a valuable contribution in the future of South Africa. We hope this school's achievement will motivate and spur many in this area, and indeed all over South Africa, to work even harder to uplift our country"
School principal Sipho Lunyawo said the school, in a poverty stricken area, would use the donation to fund some projects it had started.
"We are one of the pilot sites for inclusive education. This means that we have children with special needs at the school whom we teach life skills like art, sewing and gardening. We have many growth plans for our school and Standard Bank's assistance will help us achieve these goals. We intend using the money to support all these projects. These, in turn, will generate profits to run the school. It will also boost our campaign to provide entrepreneural skills and part-time jobs to unemployed parents."
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