The Eastern Cape Department of Education is currently training 95 care givers in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCM) on Hygiene and Cleaning Services at Schools.

Care givers in Special Schools Project is one of the Eastern Cape Department of Educations EPWP Projects, benefiting in the Social Sector grant received from the National Department of Public Works. 

It started in 2014 from 20 special schools by creating 98 work opportunities with the stipend of R990, working 11 days a month.

Currently the Department has contracted 285 care givers who are now working 20 days a month with a stipend of R2220 a month with the following responsibilities:

• Take care of disabled learners during and after school.
• Make sure learners are on time for school in proper and ironed uniform.
• See to it that during meal times learners are assisted in being fed, including those learners that eat in the classroom.
• Assist and supervise during lessons and attend to learners while the teacher is giving individual attention.
• Motivate disabled learners and build self-esteem.
• Accompany learners when transported to hospitals, clinics, town and when taken home.
• Support educators in the implementation of reading and writing strategy.
• Maintain neatness and cleanliness in the kitchen, classrooms, laundry and hostiles.

Ntombizikhona Mqorwana, a care giver from Nelson Mandela Bay at Khanyisa School for the blind says, “The training this week has really been informative, especially pertaining to the challenges we experience at our school, where learners touch everything as they are blind.” 

Mqorwana went on to thank the Department for the opportunity and sees how this training will benefit their school when she goes back and implements.

Mqorwana goes above and beyond her duties and after school hours, she has extra mural activities for the blind learners like beading, sewing and crafts.

Yolande Nkatazo, Training Coordinator from Human Resource Development said, “How I wish that the National Department of Public Works can continue to incentivize the Eastern Cape Department of Education with this grant as it has helped so many livelihoods, both in rural and urban areas.  This programme has helped with poverty alleviation.”

Nkatazo said that training will continue next week for 90 care givers in OR Inland and the following week 100 care givers will be trained in Alfred Nzo West.