WeeklySA_AdminSOCIAL SURGERY; Oldclay Foundation has adopted several public schools in Gauteng and plans to build own academies countrywide to teach young one culture and their heritage
By Ali Mphaki
Letsibogo Secondary in the heart of Soweto is where it will all begin. This after the Gauteng department of education gave its blessings for Oldclay Foundation to adopt the top peforming Meadowlands all-girls no fee school to pilot a unique education system deeply rooted in culture and their heritage.
The brainchild of renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Keith Nkuna, Oldclay Foundation moves from the premise that the current system of education is creating a generation that is disconnected from their roots and ill-equipped to drive the socio-economic progress of their communities.
The Foundation envisages a schooling system that will teach the young ones culture and their heritage to instill discipline like in the old days when respect was uppermost.
“Fact of the matter is that we are raising our children to speak more English than their mother tongues. We need a balance,” laments Nkuna, hence the foundation’s mission to revitalize African cultural values and knowledge systems to foster a sense of identity and self-worth among the young generation.
Keeping Nkuna and his Foundation awake at night are the social ills affecting our society, the breakdown in respect especially in black communities, GBV, violence in schools, mental health issues, etc.
Nkuna reckons that as a society we are scarred and amaged.
But whilst these bitter-hard ills may be cause for sulking, and brooding, and listless waiting, not so with Oldclay Foundation which seeks to confront the challenges head-on and in a concerted and not piecemeal fashion.
” We strive to create an education that is both globally competitive and deeply rooted in their cultural heritage, enabling them to contribute more effectively in the development of their communities,” explains chairman Nkuna.
It is Oldclay’s stated objective that the creeping crooked present must eventually yield to the culturral and heritage influences.
To kick-start the project, the Foundation has began putting systems in place to launch what they call a Potters voice – the first of its kind – to provide all Soweto learners with a platform to air their views on whatever issues they would like to discuss
The Potters Voice will be manned and operated by the learners themselves as part of a comprehensive media training programme which will include video making. production etc.
Of interest is thal learners will be encouraged to speak their mother tongues and dorn a.uniform that reflects their heritage.
Apart normal sports learners will be encouraged to engage in traditional games and no lunch boxes will be allowed, ensuring all eat a balanced meal prepared by expert chefs.
Overly gateful s Nkuna for the Gauteng department of education’s gesture to allow his Foundation adopt Letsibogo school, bu it is his dream to have Isintu Sethu Academies build own schools where they will put his unique project into action minus any encumberances.
He reasons that with government public schools the Foundation will not be able to completely enforce Isintu Sethu ideas and concepts of infusing cultural and heritage of education optimaly “because they are not our school. “…but with out own academies we are going full throttle,” he said.
Further bringing a smile on Nkuna’s face is the overwhelming suppor the project has received from various stakeholders, among them a vast number of traditional leaders including Nkosi Pathekile Holomisa, one of the top leaders of Contralesa.
In. his Tweeter message this week Nkosi Holomisa enthused about the Isintu Sethu project adding how proud he was to be associated with it.
Holomisa also pledged to make land available for the erection of the academy in his eastern Cape province.
The Gauteng department of education also enthused about their collaboration with the Foundation, with strategic partnership director Advocate Solane Mlambo saying they welcome any progressive project that has the potential of developing fully cultured learners.
‘This partnership bodes well for the future of our learners in their quest to become meaningful and productive members of society” he said.
Equally excited is Letsibogo principal.Ellen Mothopo and SGB members., who were hopeful the project will enhance the culture of teaching and learning at the school creating a happy renaissance.
Whilst further details are still pending about the project , you can’t eat an elephant all at once, Nkuna says, he adds that they’ve already assembled a team of educators which include psychologists, cultural activists etc.
Some in the private sector have also shown interest in the project and are willing to offer supportt, he said.
Nkuna adds that it cannot be stressed enough that there is value in teaching African children “where it all came from in order for them to help shape where its going”.
Letsibogo may just be the first flower of our wilderness, he posits.
