Working hard to provide a financial boost to pupils and schools, the Progressive Principals’ Association (PPA) raised a whopping R200 000 at their annual golf day at Rondebosch Golf Club on Thursday October 5.
About 150 principals, who belong to the PPA, attended the event, which fell on World Teacher’s Day.
The association, established in 2011, strives to provide access to information and raise awareness of the socio-economic circumstances affecting pupils and teachers.
Riyaadh Najaar, president of the PPA and principal of Spine Road High School in Rocklands, said the association stood firmly with the poor to assist schools as best as they could.
He said the association aimed to form meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses and individuals to raise funds to assist schools and help pupils with bursaries.
The PPA raised R300 000 at last year’s golf day. The money raised went towards bursaries, and training of teachers and support staff.
Throughout the year the PPA has awarded bursaries at seven functions on the West Coast, and in Atlantis, Malmesbury, Mitchell’s Plain, Southern Suburbs, Heathfield, Eerste River and Kensington.
Speaking about the concerns at schools, Rushda O’Shea, PPA vice-chairperson and Tafelsig High principal, said at her school violence and the use of drugs were major areas of concern.
“It is important for our pupils to learn in safe and secure environments. But what we find is that pupils come intoxicated to school, because they are engaging in drug activity. Then there is violence, fights among pupils, which is very challenging to deal with. Sadly, there is a lack of parental involvement, which is very important, but it is not happening, so that issue, a very important one, needs to be addressed,” she said.
Matthew Blaauw, Hazeldene Primary principal and PPA co-ordinator for sport, said the association would like to focus on sport too as it is just as important as education.
“There are so many pupils who are really good at sport, but do not get the opportunities. As the PPA, we have a golf programme for pupils where trained coaches teach pupils how to play golf. This is a wonderful programme and pupils are really enjoying it,” he said.
The PPA team thanked all the supporters and sponsors who contributed to the success of the event.
