The Wits Accounting Student Council (ASC) handed over calculators and gave a few words of encouragement to disadvantaged learners in Zola, Soweto.
The students took the opportunity to hand over 40 calculators that will be used by the Grade 11 class at the school.
Siphindile Gumede, ASC’s social development officer, said the visit was to “encourage but also emphasise the importance of education to township learners”.
Speaking to Wits Vuvuzela, the head of the commerce department in Kwadedangendlane High, Iris Magagula said “when it comes to commerce, we hardly get visitors”.
“I promise you, you are not betting on a losing horse” said Tom Mnisi, school principal.
According the Mnisi, “the learners in this school come from squatter camps around the area”. He added that “despite these circumstances, our matric pass rate has never been less than 80%”.
The ASC started collecting the calculators in May and are hoping to collect more before the year ends.
“The initial plan was to collect calculators from students, but we got companies like SAICA [South African Institute of Chartered Accountants] and LBOC Fund [Lets build our count] to sponsor us”, said Gumede.
“We hope those who become part of the council continue with the initiative and do more,” she said.