Finance minister Trevor Manuel's budget statement that government plans to extend the no-fee policy to 60% of schools will have little impact in rural areas. In many rural schools, few parents have the money to pay annual fees that can be as low as R15. Then again, what would they be paying for? Books? None. Stationery? None. Electricity? If they're lucky. Solid classrooms? You must be joking.
Far-sighted programme - Rally participants take a break
Now that President Kgalema Motlanthe has called national elections on April 22, politicians will spend the next few weeks promising the earth. Improved education will no doubt be among the pledges. For many rural children, any education will be an improvement. Illiteracy is rife. So is dropping out of school.
In May and June, however, about 1 400 urban warriors will become rural warriors for a while when they drag themselves from their warm beds before dawn and spend weekends making a difference in the lives of these children.
They will crisscross the country, climb mountains, ford rivers, slither in deep sand and mud, and abandon their typical urban routine. They will do all this in 4 x 4s weighed down with books, sports equipment, science kits and stationery - all destined for remote rural schools.
Since 1998, Rally To Read sponsors have donated more than R31m to improving literacy and teaching in rural schools. This year organisers plan to raise another R5m to benefit 40 000 children in 150 primary schools. Of that money, R3m will be spent on carefully selected classroom books packed in portable libraries, and R2m on teacher training.
Other educational materials, which are provided by individual sponsors, are worth a further R1,5m.
It costs R22 000 to become a full Rally To Read sponsor in 2009. But we don't want you to stop there. At no extra cost, you and up to three guests (children are welcome) are invited to join the organisers - the FM, McCarthy motor retail group and Read Educational Trust - in delivering goods direct to the schools and children that need them.
That means pre dawn starts, driving in one of the 450 4 x 4s that are expected to join us on our 10 rallies, travelling through spectacular scenery, experiencing the gratitude of communities who sometimes turn out in their hundreds, and generally experiencing an uplifting and memorable weekend.
Each school is supported for at least three years. It says much for the programme, which also includes management training for school principals, that over three-quarters of our sponsors come back again and again. One of the attractions is that they see first hand the development of children taking part in Rally To Read. Independent educational research shows rapid improvement in reading and writing skills at schools supported by the rally.
Food and accommodation costs over these weekends are borne by the organisers and co-hosts of certain rallies: United Bulk in the Free State; Mercedes-Benz SA in the Eastern Cape; the SA Sugar Association in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) South; and De Beers Finsch Mine, Idwala Mine and PPC Lime in the Northern Cape.
Of the 10 rallies, eight are from Saturday to Sunday while two - Northern Cape and Limpopo - start Friday afternoon because of the distances involved. All rallies are led by experienced convoy leaders.
Organisers have had to change a number of rally dates because of limited accommodation over the originally allocated weekends.
The final 2009 rally programme is:
- May 9-10: Western Cape (Laingsberg/ Prince Albert), Mpumalanga 1 (Chrissiesmeer/Swazi border).
- May 16-17: North West (Zeerust/ Madikwe), Mpumalanga 2 (Amsterdam/Ermelo).
- May 22-24: Northern Cape (Kuruman).
- May 23-24: KZN North (Cathedral Peak area).
- May 29-31: Limpopo (Southern Soutpansberg).
- May 30-31: KZN South (Ixopo/Harding).
- June 6-7: Eastern Cape (Hogsback); Free State (Reitz/Bethlehem/Clarens).
For more details, or to become a sponsor, visit the Rally To Read website, www.rallytoread.co.za, e-mail rally@mccarthy.co.za, fax to 086-673-4470, or call rally co-ordinator Iris Francis on (031) 268-9285.
