N.C.W.’s Practical Help In Educating Africans

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30687, 1 March 1965, Page 2

N.C.W.’s Practical Help In Educating Africans

Books sent to Sizane, Southern Rhodesia, by the National Council of Women of New Zealand were helping to meet the demands of a “fantastic education explosion in a positive way,” says Miss Marjorie Sanders, area education adviser, in a letter of thanks to Mrs W. Grant, national president of the New Zealand council.

In an area where half the African population is under 16 years, the vocational school at Sizane is training general school drop-outs to earn a living and gain a little more education, she said. The first batch of 19 students recently completed the course in less than the two years stipulated.

The pupils recently took the Government junior certificate (external) examination with extremely good results.

“Every pupil has passed the minimum of three subjects, some have achieved considerably more and eight have gained credits in seven and eight subjects. Doors Open to Careers

“Success in this examination justifies admission to teaching, nursing, secretarial end apprenticeship courses to which some students have already been admitted. “With the erection of new buildings in the future, which will include more suitable facilities, some of these courses could then be an integral part of Sizane,” she said.

The school is now held in four classrooms lent by the Baptist Church in Sizane. In September last it had a roll of 60, a waiting list of 250 and a desperate shortage of books.

The 1964 examination results were a practical outcome of the training scheme and one that can be assessed, she said. But the growth of personality and character, the maturity which came from working at odd jobs to earn school fees, the new self-reliance that arose from taking responsibility and the confidence brought by a degree of success to pupils

regarded as mere drop-outs, were the more intangible qualities of human endeavour tiie school had achieved. “With a dedicated and able headmistress, voluntary teachers and the practical help and goodwill of so many people, not only in Rhodesia but half-way round the world to New Zealand, all this has been accomplished and I would like you to know what you have helped us to do,” she said.

Expanded Library The school’s reference library had now been expanded considerably and fiction was now being read with enthusiasm, she added. In the past, pupils had regarded fiction as a waste of time, believing that only the absorption of facts would enable them to become educated. “All the books for little children have opened up new windows on the world for the pre-school African children, for whom some of us have just been able to start the first nursery schools,” Miss Sanders said. The National Council of Women of New Zealand has “twinned” with the N.C.W. of Southern Rhodesia as an International Council of Women’s contribution to International co-operation year. Sending parcels of books to Sizane is part of the project. Plans have been completed for the New Zealand and

Southern Rhodesian women to study each other’s work and living conditions, to establish close human relationships by the exchange of letters and gifts. Interchange of visits may also be arranged later.