New classrooms opened at Noluthando

John Winship from the Rotary Club of Newlands, Noluthando School principal Ayanda Ncinane and Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages commercial director John Joubert.

Noluthando School for the Deaf children in Khayelitsha has had an upgrade that will bring much-needed relief to pupils and the teaching staff, thanks to the assistance of Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages and Rotary Club of Newlands.

Just over a year ago, the school opened its newly-built treatment and assessment centre and this year’s upgrade included the addition of six new classrooms at a cost of R3 million funded by donors.

It will enable the centre’s professional team to extend their special needs services to the surrounding community, with a focus on educating, in particular, hearing impaired and autistic pupils.

Minna Steyn, programme director, Deaf and Autism in the department, thanked the sponsors. She said they could not have build the classes. She another problem was that the school is on the private land.The new classes, launched on Friday November 22, means pupils will no longer be cramped in one class. The delighted staff members confirmed that the upgrade will reduce overcrowding.

School principal Ayanda Ncinane said: “We’re delighted to have such development to create a centre of excellent that we envisage. The classes we had were always congested and overcrowding.” However, he added, a hostel and sports field were still on their wish list.

Rotary Club representative John Winship said the club worked with schools and the education department to ensure the smooth and effective development of schools. “We are delighted to have made a contribution here. Our relationship with the school comes a long way. We are also grateful and said our gratitude to Peninsula Beverages,” he said. To date, Rotary has built 20 classes at Noluthando. John Joubert the commercial director at Peninsula Beverages said his organisation would continue to contribute in the development of communities.