Public-private partnership sees R5m investment in Soweto-based school

Deputy minister of basic education Dr Reginah Mhaule and MEC of education in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi cut the ribbon to open the facility.

The facilities were established through a public-private partnership initiated and managed by the SAME Foundation, a national non-profit organisation that implements high-impact community development projects primarily funded by the private sector.

“The Lofentse Girls School project was realised thanks to funding from 20 companies who have chosen to invest in STEM education for young female learners. mMajor donors of this project include the Londvolota Trust, Anglogold Ashanti, Fluor South Africa and Volkswagen Financial Services,” said Tyrone Pols, spokesperson of SAME.

Top performing school

Pols continued that the purpose of this project was to turn Lofentse Girls High School into a science and maths-focused school of excellence, while also attending to the basic challenges such as infrastructure and capacity issues. In the past year the school has already become the top performing school in its district.

“Over the next year the SAME Foundation will continue to monitor and support the school while rolling out various investment projects in the health and education sectors across the country. We urge the private sector to get involved in these socio-economic development projects as they are proven to have a significant and lasting impact on communities that need it the most,” concluded Pols.