JOHANNESBURG –  A corporate social responsibility initiative by a leading hotel and leisure group is addressing the issue of overcrowding at schools in Ekurhuleni.

The Fortune Kunene Primary School in Katlehong is the recent recipient of some mobile classrooms Peermont, owners and operators of Emperors Palace, has donated to address overcrowding in classroom.

The two mobile classrooms have been donated.

The donation, valued at R600 000, has been done under the auspices of the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT), which has pledged its commitment to improving the quality of education of local children in need.

Students in Grade R will benefit.

“An improved or quality Grade R education changes the child’s dynamics for the rest of their life,” says Vusi Zwane, Peermont Group Corporate Affairs Executive.

He says the project seeks to improve the quality of teaching and learning in that grade, in order to enable a greater number of learners to perform better throughout their schooling life as well as increase the number of learners eligible to select Maths in Grade 10.

“The project plan has been designed to provide a holistic, stimulating teaching and learning environment where children can learn, explore and discover their wondrous world,” adds Zwane.

Thabo Milton Maruping, Principal of Fortune Kunene, hails the donation.

“On behalf of the staff, school governing body, learners and community of Fortune Kunene we wish to express our sincere gratitude to Peermont Community Benefit Trust for all that they have done for us. We are very excited,” says Kunene.

The mobile classes will be powered by electricity supplied by Elto National Electricity.

“We wholeheartedly welcome this valuable donation,” says Maruping.

Trustees of the PCBT approved the rollout of the mobile classrooms project in 2013.

The Grade R project has also been rolled out to Reahile, R.P. Mapanzela, and Nageng.

The Everite classrooms are fully insulated.

The classrooms are 69 m2 in size, light and airy, giving the children plenty of room to learn and take part in activities and crafts.

“When the situation of overcrowding was brought to our attention we responded swiftly to alleviate the situation at the school. We hope the donation will help alleviate the problem of overcrowded classrooms at some of our township schools. We hope this donation will contribute immensely to the teaching and learning environment at the school,” says Zwane.

He points out teaching in an overcrowded classroom can be stressful for both the educators and learners and increases classroom discipline issues.