Natest Primary celebrates turning 60: Forebears knew education was key to escape poverty and misery

Natest Primary School, situated in the former Sugar Estate of Campbells Town in Mount Edgecombe, turned 60 recently and to celebrate the milestone, the school will host an anniversary dinner and dance on October 26 at the Stanmore Hall in Phoenix from 6pm.

"There will be meals, live entertainment, lucky draw prizes and an auction of a historic painting will conclude the night’s festivities," said Rodney Naidoo, the school’s acting deputy principal.

"We urge former pupils, teachers, community members, residents and the greater public to join us to celebrate this historic monument in this, our 60th year of quality education."

Naidoo said the school was built with contributions from the meagre earnings of workers from the Natal sugar plantation estates and sugar mill community of Mount Edgecombe, whose livelihood depended on the existence of the mill.

"In spite of the hardships of our forebears, they knew that education was the key to our escape from poverty and misery," said Naidoo.

"The focus on good education and the courage to forge ahead despite little or no assistance from the erstwhile apartheid government resulted in many of the poor families of Mount Edgecombe becoming part of a mostly successful middle class community.

"The school has a proud history of producing many successful community leaders, sports people and professionals from throughout the 60 years of existence."

He said the school, however, required funds to maintain its ageing infrastructure and monthly operational costs.

"Natest Primary caters to pupils who reside in 20 socio-economically challenged areas. The school fees collection is low, so fundraising is a vital source of income."

For more information on the event, call Rodney Naidoo on 084 871 9476, RK Thilakdhari on 084 301 3451, or Vincent Govender on 082 298 7094.

THE POST