Bikes to curb school late coming

Late coming is one of the endless challenges facing many schools across the country, particular in townships.

Non-profit organisation Qhubeka believe their donation of 100 bicycles to Matthew Goniwe High School in Khayelitsha will help the pupils to travel safer and arrive on time.

They hope the bicycles, which were handed over on Thursday March 7, will also help the pupils to stay fit, lead a healthy lifestyle and develop a love for cycling.

Qhubeka programme administrator, Sithembiso Gwaza, said as the bicycles are used as part of extra-mural activities, they keep the youth away from drugs and crime.He urged parents and the community to play an active role in ensuring that their children keep the bicycles in a good condition.

He said they would come back to the school to assess how the bicycles had been handled and indicated that there would also be more donations.

“We promote a health lifestyle. Not every parent is able to buy a bicycle for their children. We want the children to be occupied so that they are not easily lured to a life of crime. Our aim is to hand a bicycle to every child in the school. We also empower pupils with life-changing skills. We want these children to be future leaders.”

Mr Gwaza said one of their main challenges was theft of the bicycles but they have installed safety features on them.

Qhubeka also taught the children how to ride the bicycles safely.

School teacher Mzikabawo Galela said he was pleased with the donation.

Mr Galela said he hopes the pupils who have received the bicycles would no longer be part of the pupils who come late to school.

He described late coming as one of the main issues facing the school.

He said it was not the first time that the school had received a donation of bicycles and that they had implemented various strategies to ensure that they keep track of the bicycles.

He said such donations provide the pupils with an opportunity to cycle and enjoy the road to and from school. He said many girls were still reluctant to get bicycles and hopes they would come forward as he would love every child in the school to have a bicycle.

Pupil Nophumelelo Sobalise said she was glad to be among the pupils who received a bicycle.

The 19-year-old said she uses the bicycle for cycling and urged her peers, particular girls, to take a bicycle too.