De Beers (business)
Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Council (Provincial Government)
South African Department of Education
South African Department of Health

The township of Refilwe (outside of Pretoria) was experiencing an educational crisis with overcrowded and dilapidated schools trying to accommodate both primary and secondary learners in an effort to provide some sort of an education for the local children. Parents and educators brought the problem to the attention of De Beers´ Premier Mine, a significant employer in the local community. The mine provided engineering and architecture capacity as well as labour and materials for the construction of the Chokoe Primary School. This school, which is supported and managed by the local community, now provides an effective educational facility for primary school learners.

Education is clearly an important element of both social and economic sustainability. Proper primary school education is important as it lays the foundation for later learning. A sound education also increases the prospects for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the learners later in life. The new facility has also created an environment for the learners which is more conducive to learning. Through the partnerships with Government, the project includes a feeding scheme for the learners, ensuring proper nutrition for children who may otherwise have gone hungry in an impoverished community.

Premier Mine also makes available to this school - and others in the area - the operation´s game park facilities for environmental awareness programmes for the learners.

In the old school that serviced both primary and secondary learners, the pupil to teacher ratio was about 100:1. At Chokoe this has been halved and, although not ideal, is still a great improvement on the past, evident in the achievements of the pupils. In addition to the 25 classrooms, modern facilities such as sports fields and a library have also been established at Chokoe over the last few years, providing a holistic learning and social environment for the children.

As with all the projects funded by De Beers, the initiative to build the school was driven by the community where they recognised a need. It is relatively easy for a company to hand over a cheque but it is partnerships and the commitment of all the stakeholders which makes the project sustainable in the long term. With the combined efforts of all the stakeholders bringing their own capacities and capabilities to the project, the educational prospects of a one group of children have now been greatly improved. This can surely be replicated in similar communities around the country.

Being able to establish an educational facility such as this in an impoversihed township area is unique in itself. The cooperation of the public and private sector in this community-driven project has meant that the costs were kept relatively low. The school was designed and built at as low maintenance costs as possible (face brick rather than painted plaster and paving rather than grass) to ensure that it lasts and that there are no additional unnecessary financial demands on the parents.

De Beers provided the engineering and architectural expertise, the labour and the materials for the construction of the school with its 25 classrooms, library and sports fields.

The South African Department of Education provides and pays for the teachers.

The South African Department of Health sponsors a feeding scheme at Chokoe for destitute and malnourished children.

The Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Council contributed the land on which the school is built.