BACKGROUND
History of Rural Education Development NPO (RED)
Mathematics and Social Sciences Programmes
In early 2019, Prof. Fhatuwani Mundalamo, the Founder of Rural Education Development NPO (RED), received a heartfelt request from his brother. The appeal was simple yet profound – assistance for their sons who were grappling with subjects, particularly Mathematics and Social Sciences.
Both the Founder's son and his brother's son were navigating Grade 6, each attending different schools. Despite Prof. Fhatuwani's eighteen years of teaching experience at various universities, he initially felt uncertain about aiding the two learners. However, a turning point came when he reviewed his son's March 2019 report, revealing a Mathematics mark below 50%. This prompted Prof. Fhatuwani to embark on a mission to support not only his family but also the broader community.
As a leader and Chief of the village, Prof. Fhatuwani extended an invitation to other Grade 6 learners from the village, and even Grade 8 learners were welcomed for additional Mathematics lessons. Nearly 20 learners from Grades 4, 5, and 6 participated in year-long extra lessons, with over 60 Grade 8 learners joining from April to June 2019.
Tutor Programmes
In 2020, six Grade 8 learners and around 20 learners from Grades 1 to 6 continued attending lessons. Notably, four Grade 6 learners from 2019 were employed as tutors, along with an additional tutor for learners in Grades 1 to 3. These tutorials occurred weekly in a humble garage fitted with plastic chairs, and the tutors received compensation for their efforts. Unfortunately, the progress was hampered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Undeterred by challenges, 2021 saw collaboration between the Founder and the Traditional Council of Tshitavha Village to organize guidance and Mathematics extra classes for Grades 4 to 6 learners. These classes unfolded over ten Saturdays at Sambandou Primary School, led by Prof. Fhatuwani Mundalamo and Mr. Thifhumuli Mundalamo.
Through these initiatives, a crucial revelation emerged: the missing link between mediocre and exceptional learner performance lay in the creation and supervision of a personal study timetable, a responsibility shared by both the learner and their parent(s) or guardian.
Awards Ceremony Programmes
In 2022, Prof. Fhatuwani Mundalamo, also the Headman/Chief of Tshitavha Village, joined forces with the Traditional Council to introduce a reward system for excellence. The inaugural awards ceremony in December 2022 celebrated Grade 1 to 12 learners achieving an average of 80% or more in all subjects. Thirty-two primary school learners were honored, distributed across various grades.
Notably, there were no learners from Tshitavha village achieving 80% or more in all subjects in Grades 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, highlighting a continued commitment to bridge this gap in the educational journey. The story of RED is a testament to perseverance, community collaboration, and an unwavering dedication to educational empowerment in rural South Africa.
As RED continues to evolve, it remains steadfast in its dedication to enhancing education in rural communities, ultimately contributing to the development of a well-educated and empowered generation of leaders.
Notably, there were no learners from Tshitavha village achieving 80% or more in all subjects in Grades 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, highlighting a continued commitment to bridge this gap in the educational journey. The story of RED is a testament to perseverance, community collaboration, and an unwavering dedication to educational empowerment in rural South Africa.
As RED continues to evolve, it remains steadfast in its dedication to enhancing education in rural communities, ultimately contributing to the development of a well-educated and empowered generation of leaders.