Douglas Road Primary School will be celebrating its 83rd anniversary with a number of events to mark the occasion.
The Wynberg school is appealing to the public to support them as they face severe financial constraints.
The first fund-raiser will be a spring market on Saturday November 9.
Cynthia Sherry, the principal since January 2022, said the school has been unable to reach targets from school-fee income and fund-raisers.
“Funding for SGB (school governing body) appointed teaching staff members is urgently required for salaries for 2025, as the education of our learners could be adversely impacted.
“We are therefore appealing to our community at large, especially business and ex-pupils, to please assist us by donating towards the course of providing continued quality education to our learners as well as upgrading our school.”
The history of the school has been collated by staff throughout the years. Sahib Dhansay, the first principal of Douglas Road Primary, started in 1941 and served for six years. In 1948, the Cape School Board took over. There were eight classrooms in 1960.
“We currently have 241 learners at our school and still have eight classrooms,” said Ms Sherry.
She said Douglas Road Primary School needs a new classroom to introduce Grade R.
“We are planning on subdividing classrooms to incorporate Grade 1 into the foundation phase classroom area. The house where the Grade 1s are currently situated, will then become the Grade R classroom. However, we are in dire need of sponsors and donors in cash or kind so are urging the community of Wynberg and businesses at large, to assist us in making this a reality. We currently have a group of ex-pupils who are in the process of raising funds that will go towards the Grade R and office renovation projects,” said Ms Sherry.
The school finances had already started declining before the Covid-19 pandemic and with parents losing their jobs during the lockdowns, the financial situation has worsened.
“Parents are struggling to put food on the table, let alone pay school fees,” said Ms Sherry.
She they were worried about the announcement by the Western Cape Education Department that 2 400 teaching jobs would be cut in the province.
“This will further place tremendous strain on our already fragile finances as the SGB cannot afford to pay salaries to teachers.
“Being a small school, the absence of one teacher has such an immense effect on the entire school and staff,” said Ms Sherry.
Douglas Road Primary School has a number of well known former pupils including Mustaq Brey, CEO of Brimstone Investments; Mehboob Bawa, radio personality; Zeid Baker, principal of South Peninsula High; and Ebrahim Abrahams, principal of Muhammadeyah Primary School.
Vendors can call the school on 021 797 9533 to book a stall for the spring market. No outside food vendors will be allowed as Douglas Road Primary School will be selling all food and tuckshop items.
All ex-pupils and businesses who would like to get involved, can WhatsApp Jasmiena Davids at 082 809 7559.
