It has been a difficult year for Vhutshilo Mountain School and it is with mixed emotions that we must explain to you the dire situation and ensuing changes we’ve all been forced to make. Once you have read this explanation, hopefully you will understand the bigger issues that loom over the South African population and our motivation for continuing to support quality education for its children.
Last May Sue-Anne Cook, the Founder and Director of Vhutshilo Mountain School, contacted us in great distress. We understood that she had submitted the VMS registration application with the Circuit Office in 2006, but we were unaware of the extent of the graft, the incompetence and the disinterest on the part of the Gov. Department of Education. After more than 5 years of rewriting and submitting applications, ignored phone calls, and cancelled meetings Ms. Cook came to the conclusion that VMS was in danger of closing if government assistance was not forthcoming.
More than once Sue-Anne wrote to HFL seeking assistance since VMS operating expenses were available for only “one more month”. Chicken and fish had to be eliminated from the children’s diet, school insurance had to be cancelled and salaries had to be decreased. Luckily all VMS funders were able to shift their financial support from ongoing projects to immediate operating expenses and the school continued to limp along.
The VMS School Board met in October of 2011 and determined that due to the uncertainty of government support, VMS would close the Grade 1,2 and 3 classes reverting back to being an Early Childhood Development Centre. Although sponsoship supplies all of the needs for an individual child, VMS has general operating expenses that must also be met and this is where the government subsidy is necessary. Although VMS has been “promised” to be included in the 2012/2013 budget, we’ve just learned that newly registered schools have to function for a year before qualifying for a subsidy. This means that actual cash should not be expected until October 2013! Susie writes: “The DoE is so dysfunctional that subsides that should be awarded in April are rarely received until October. In the meantime, the schools have to run on credit for which they pay through the nose.”
We wholeheartedly support the VMS school board’s decision to restructure VMS into a more manageable and autonomous school with continued all-important support from our HFL sponsors. We are happy to say that due to a most generous recent fundraising event held on the island of St John, USVI, Cristina Kessler and friends managed to sponsor all of the remaining children who were waiting for financial backing. Hearing of the reason for the VI charitable event, a group of 7th and 8th grade advanced placement students at the Julius E. Sprauve School on St John ran a bake sale/ice cream sundae sale to raise money to sponsor a late comer to the Vhutshilo Mountain School. This total support has given VMS a tremendous boost!
The ECD program will be divided into 3 classes: infants up to 3 years; preschool classes up to 4 years and a Grade R (Readiness) class up to 5 years after which time they will then graduate to Grade 1 at their local schools.
Although we initially approached this change with trepidation, HFL appreciates the firm foundation upon which VMS now sits. Future plans include reverting back to being a ‘Foundation Phase School’ as soon as consistent funding allows.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of your continued encouragement. Your support allows us to move forward and to continue to positively impact childrens’ lives.
