Pastor calls on other churches to help matrics prepare

By Phumlani Mdolomba

ZWELITSHA -- Churches have been called on to help improve the matric pass rate in the Eastern Cape and become involved in educational projects.

At an Assemblies of God Church (AGC) exhibition and careers day here, the Divine Life Centre's Pastor Phumezo Pantsi said churches needed to commit themselves to development and nation-building and be part of efforts to better education in South Africa.

"Financial burdens are the main problem for our predominantly black schools in the province," Pantsi said.

The event was to mark the closing of a winter school hosted and organised by the AGC at Hector Petersen High School.

The two-week long school offered free subject coaching by volunteer teachers.

A number of teachers from the AGC and other denominations dedicated their winter holidays to offer free lessons.

About 500 matric pupils from East London, Aliwal North, Umtata, Jamestown, King William's Town and surrounding areas attended.

This was the first time that the AGC hosted and organised a winter school and plans are afoot to hold it annually on a free and voluntary basis.

AGC spokesperson Nikelo Yengo said his church was prompted to host the school by the declining matric pass rate and its need to contribute towards the upliftment of the standard of education.

Yengo said the idea was a brainchild of the church's Zwelitsha Pastor Wellington Mancunga and was welcomed by church members, especially those who were teachers as a challenge to help raise the pass rate in the schools.

The church also provided teaching aids, charts and other material from its own coffers.

He thanked the teachers who, he said, had shown there were still educators who were concerned about education.

Hector Petersen High School matric pupil Yandisa Gala said the winter school was fruitful and would boost the matric results.

Gala called on other churches to follow the AGC's lead. She also appealed to the government that winter schools and spring schools be held in many centres in the province as part of the matric intervention programme.