Sinenjongo High School#Free access to Wikipedia

In 1993, Elda Mahlentle started a school (the Elda Mahlentle Primary School) in the informal settlement called Chuku Town, opposite the racehorse stables in Milnerton. Grades 1 to 4 were housed all in one small shack. By the end of 1994 the school had expanded up to Grade 9 and consisted of eight container classrooms. The Department of Education subsidised the school through payment of ten teachers' salaries.

In 1996, the new houses were being built in Joe Slovo and so the school moved there with 16 educators. After lengthy negotiations the school finally became a public school in 2004. Elda Mahlentle Primary School became Sinenjongo High School and Marconi Beam Primary School.

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= 210px | video1 = [http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxCapeTownED-Malinga-Nopote-E Malinga Nopote – Excellence Through Trust], TEDx

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Rabie Property Group has taken on Sinenjongo High School as the major beneficiary of their Corporate Social Investment Programme.{{cite web | archive-date=21 April 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421230245/http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/?s=sinenjongo | url-status=dead | url=http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/?s=sinenjongo | title=Sinenjongo | Rabie Blog | publisher=Rabie.co.za | access-date=13 June 2013}}

Malinga Nopote was appointed as the school principal in July 2010, and spoke at TEDxCapeTownED in 2012 about the remarkable improvement in the pass rate of the school.{{cite web | url=http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxCapeTownED-Malinga-Nopote-E | title=Malinga Nopote – Excellence Through Trust | publisher=TEDxCapeTownED | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQcJUpwZ_-U | title=Excellence through trust: Malinga Nopote at TEDxCapeTownED | via=YouTube | date=18 June 2012 | access-date=13 June 2013}}

The school received an award for being one of the 10 most improved schools in the Western Cape in 2012 from the Western Cape Education Department.{{cite web | url=http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/docs/2013/wc_top_schools.pdf | title=WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) AWARDS FOR 2012 | publisher=info.gov.za | access-date=13 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612210657/http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/docs/2013/wc_top_schools.pdf | archive-date=12 June 2013 | url-status=dead}}

File:Sinenjongo High School, Joe Slovo Park, Cape Town, South Africa-3743.jpg

In 2012, the school had:

• 1 prefabricated science laboratory{{cite news | url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/joe-slovo-pupils-get-to-grips-with-science-1.360967?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot | title=Joe Slovo pupils get to grips with science | publisher=IOL | date=7 July 2007 | access-date=13 July 2014 | author=Bronwynne Esbach}}{{cite web | url=http://www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/asset-management/om-investment-group-(sa)/about-us/community-involvement.aspx | title=Community Involvement | publisher=Oldmutual.co.za | access-date=13 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403052428/http://www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/asset-management/om-investment-group-(sa)/about-us/community-involvement.aspx | archive-date=3 April 2014 | url-status=dead}}{{cite news | url=http://www.thepost.co.za/joe-slovo-pupils-get-to-grips-with-science-1.360967 | title=Joe Slovo pupils get to grips with science – Post | IOL.co.za | work=Post | date=19 February 2013 | access-date=13 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234625/http://www.thepost.co.za/joe-slovo-pupils-get-to-grips-with-science-1.360967 | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead}}
• 1 small garden{{cite web | url=http://centurycity.co.za.dedi118b.your-server.co.za/blog/century-city-takes-arbor-day-to-neighbouring-community | title=Century City Takes Arbor Day To Neighbouring Community | publisher=Century City Blog | date=9 September 2010 | access-date=13 July 2014 | author=digitalpro}}
• 2 prefabricated computer laboratories (with less than 40 working computers in total){{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/07/10/TC/28/cfrotary.html | title=Rotary Club helps learners in need | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151158/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/07/10/TC/28/cfrotary.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead}}
• More than 18 prefabricated classrooms, with 27 teachers (in addition there are 4 Maths-and-Science and 1 English teachers, hired by the private sector{{cite journal | url=http://issuu.com/b-guided_media/docs/centurycityedits2 | title=Century City Edits | publisher=ISSUU | date=May–June 2012 | access-date=13 July 2014 | author=Michele Attwood | issue=2}}) and more than 800 learners.{{cite web | url=http://sinenjongohighschoolvaledictory2011.blogspot.com/ | title=Sinenjongo High School -My Valedictory Speech (2011, September) | publisher=Sinenjongohighschoolvaledictory2011.blogspot.com | date=15 October 2011 | access-date=13 June 2013}}

In 2017, Sinenjongo moved to the new school building{{cite web | url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/brand-new-r47-million-sinenjongo-high-school-nearing-completion | title=Brand new R47 million Sinenjongo High School nearing completion }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rabie.co.za/brand-new-r47-million-sinenjongo-high-school-nearing-completion/ | title=Sinenjongo High School nearing completion | date=10 June 2016 }} which has

• 41 Classrooms
• 4 Science laboratories
• A computer laboratory
• A media centre
• A school hall
• A sports field

The new school hall was however burnt down as part of protests held in 2020, and as a result, has been subject to impairment. (Impairment of assets, in terms of the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards, the IFRS's International Accounting Standard - IAS 36: loss of value of an asset compared to 'book value'; below its recoverable value).

File:My classmates.JPG

From 2010, the school has obtained a high pass rate{{cite web | url=http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/2013/01/sinenjongo-achieves-matric-pass-rate/ | title=Sinenjongo achieves 94% pass rate | publisher=Rabie | date=14 January 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526062017/http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/2013/01/sinenjongo-achieves-matric-pass-rate/ | archive-date=26 May 2013 | url-status=dead}}{{cite news | url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/pass-rate-triples-in-just-two-years-1.1009128 | title=Pass rate triples in just two years – Western Cape | publisher=IOL News | date=7 January 2011 | access-date=13 July 2014 | author=Michelle Jones}} and has been graduating students who matriculate to a university level, called a Bachelor pass.{{cite web | url=http://natashalassen.blogspot.com/2012/01/bright-future-for-lukhanyo-good-news.html | title=Natasha Lassen |: A Good News Story | Bright future for Lukhanyo Velelo | publisher=Natashalassen.blogspot.com | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/whizz-kid-gets-5-as-living-in-shack-with-uncle-1.1209265#.UbPGQ_kwdsk | title=Whizz-kid gets 5 As living in shack with uncle | publisher=IOL News | date=7 January 2012 | access-date=13 June 2013 | author=BIANCA CAPAZORIO}}

• Star Schools{{cite web | url=http://www.starschools.co.za/programmes.html#anchor_saturday_school | title=Programmes | publisher=Starschools | access-date=13 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810161733/http://starschools.co.za/programmes.html#anchor_saturday_school | archive-date=10 August 2013 | url-status=dead}}
• BBN{{cite web | url=http://www.bbn.co.za/ | title=Legacy Partnership | publisher=BBN | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.bbn.co.za/yes_i_can_gallery.php | title=Legacy Partnership | publisher=BBN | access-date=13 July 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://bbnlearners.blogspot.com/2011/04/bbn-learners-2011-sinenjongo.html | title=BBN LEARNERS 2011 – Sinenjongo | publisher=BBN Addsure Sinenjongo 2011 Learners | date=24 April 2011 | access-date=13 July 2014 | last=Addison | first=Mike | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165543/http://bbnlearners.blogspot.com/2011/04/bbn-learners-2011-sinenjongo.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead}}
• ASSET{{cite web | url=http://asset.org.za/ | title=ASSET | publisher=Association for Educational Transformation | date=14 March 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013}}

{{see also|Wikipedia Zero}}

File:Open Letter for Free Access to Wikipedia.webm

File:Call for free Wikipedia for schoolkids on cellphones.ogg

In 2012, the 11A grade class at the school lobbied South African cellphone network operators to provide free access to Wikipedia to assist students with research.{{cite web | url=http://www.livdigital.co.za/south-african-school-goers-lobby-mobile-operators-for-free-wikipedia-access/ | title=South African school-goers lobby mobile operators for free Wikipedia access | publisher=Livdigital Independent News | date=12 December 2012 | access-date=13 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211005535/http://www.livdigital.co.za/south-african-school-goers-lobby-mobile-operators-for-free-wikipedia-access | archive-date=11 February 2013 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | url=http://www.gadget.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=5612 | title=SA learners lobby for free Wikipedia on phones | publisher=Gadget | date=27 December 2012 | access-date=13 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603230359/http://www.gadget.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=5612 | archive-date=3 June 2013 | url-status=dead}} FNB Connect (a South African ISP) was the first to respond by offering free Wikipedia browsing during certain hours to their own clients. While this offer is not available to cellphone users, it will put more pressure on the cellphone network operators to offer the same.{{cite web | url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/fnb-connect-to-offer-free-wikipedia-browsing-in-the-evening--919278 | title=FNB Connect to offer free Wikipedia browsing in the evening | publisher=Telecompaper | date=17 January 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://businesstech.co.za/news/internet/29953/fnb-connect-offers-free-wiki-browsing/ | title=FNB Connect offers free wiki browsing | publisher=BusinessTech | date=16 January 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013}}

In May 2013, the school was visited by Victor Grigas and Charlene Music from the Wikimedia Foundation to shoot a documentary about the school and this campaign.{{cite web | url=http://issuu.com/tygerburger/docs/tygerburger_milnerton_29_may_2013 | title=Tygerburger Milnerton 29 May 2013 by Tygerburger Newspaper | publisher=ISSUU | date=29 May 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=https://soundcloud.com/primediabroadcasting/call-for-free-wikioedia-for | title=Call for free Wikipedia for schoolkids on cellphones by Primedia Broadcasting on SoundCloud | publisher=Soundcloud.com | date=7 June 2013 | access-date=13 June 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.saha.org.za/news/2012/December/south_african_learners_lobby_for_free_mobile_access_to_online_encyclopedia.htm | title=South African learners lobby for free mobile access to online encyclopedia | publisher=SAHA | date=14 December 2012 | access-date=13 July 2014}}

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage = 210px | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc2lVRtWEvMMTN SA #NekNomination: Free Access to Wikipedia], (3:09), response from the MTN Group, 14 February 2014

}}

Plus, in June 2013, national, provincial and local newspapers, published the students' letter and had articles written about it, especially on the week preceding the South African national holiday of 16 June "Youth Day". The letter has received a voice beyond its home-province, the Western Cape, to provinces like the Gauteng and the KwaZulu Natal and continues to strengthen it through the Free Access to Wikipedia from Cellphones Facebook page.

• {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/FreeAccessToWikipedia |title=Free Access to Wikipedia from Cellphones |publisher=Facebook |access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news|author=Duncan Alfreds |url=http://m.news24.com/news24/Technology/News/SA-learners-lobby-for-free-Wikipedia-20121210 |title=SA learners lobby for free Wikipedia |work=News24 |date=10 December 2012|access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.ngopulse.org/category/tags/wikipedia |title=Wikipedia |publisher=NGO Pulse |access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60956 |title=Students want free mobile Wikipedia |publisher=ITWeb |date=9 January 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.humanipo.com/news/6440/Wikipedia-films-Sinenjongo-learners |title=Wikipedia films Sinenjongo learners |publisher=HumanIPO |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305034621/http://www.humanipo.com/news/6440/Wikipedia-films-Sinenjongo-learners/ |archive-date=5 March 2014}}
• {{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201212160040.html |title=South Africa: Learners Lobby for Free Wikipedia Access (Page 1 of 2) |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=13 December 2012 |access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news|author=Nic Spaull |url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/youthtube/2013/06/13/let-pupils-roam-info-highway |title=Let pupils roam info highway |publisher=Sowetan LIVE |date=13 June 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news|url=http://finweek.com/2013/06/12/opinion-free-access-to-wikipedia-from-cellphones/ |title=OPINION: Free access to Wikipedia from cellphones |publisher=Finweek.com |date=12 June 2013|access-date=13 July 2014}}
• {{cite news|author=Nic Spaull |url=http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/change-lives-of-millions-of-children-with-penstroke-1.1532548#.Ubsd9-cmtWU |title=Change lives of millions of children with penstroke – The Mercury |publisher=IOL |date=14 June 2013|access-date=13 July 2014}}

On 14 February 2014, in response to a NekNomination challenge from Five Roses Tea, the cellphone operator MTN Group announced via a YouTube video that they would provide access to Wikipedia without data charges. A NekNomination is an internet craze that started as a drinking game, but developed into an online challenge to make a positive difference in South Africa.{{cite web | url=http://www.biztechafrica.com/article/neknomination-leads-free-mobile-wikipedia-sa/7712/#.Uv5-jEJdWdM | title=NekNomination leads to free mobile Wikipedia in SA | work=BizTechAfrica | date=14 February 2014 | access-date=14 February 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://technology.iafrica.com/news/903184.html | title=MTN gives free access to Wikipedia | work=iafrica.com | access-date=14 February 2014}}

The Gr 12A learners have written a number of articles for the IsiXhosa Wikipedia. 'Ukucinezeleka kwamanina' (Oppression of Women) by Sinako Mtakati took first prize in a competition held in August 2013. In 2014, grade 11A learners joined WikiAfrica and started editing and creating articles. Nicholas Dodo, Sinoxolo Cotyi, Esethu Dudumashe, Asiya Bucwa and Sesethu Mdikane joined Lead SA in association with WikiAfrica at an Edit-a-thon.{{cite web | url=http://leadsa.co.za/?p=20186 | title=Youth Day Wikipedia Edit-a-thon | publisher=Lead SA | date=16 June 2014 | access-date=13 July 2014}}

File:WikiReaders in South Africa.jpgs being used in Sinenjongo High School]]

In late 2013, Sinenjongo learners received more than 95 WikiReaders with mixed funds from a Wikimedia individual engagement grant{{cite web | url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:PEG/Aislinn_Dewey/Distribute_WikiReaders_to_Schools/Report#School_Bios | title=Grants:PEG/Aislinn Dewey/Distribute WikiReaders to Schools/Report | publisher=Meta | date=12 March 2014 | access-date=13 July 2014}} and an Indiegogo campaign.{{cite web | url=http://wikireaders4kids.tumblr.com/ | title=WikiReaders 4 Kids | work=tumblr.com | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301105121/http://wikireaders4kids.tumblr.com/ | archive-date=1 March 2014 | url-status=dead}}

There is a Careers day for the Grade 8s and Grade 9s where people from different career fields speak to the learners and let them know about those career fields. This is done because the learners in Grade 10 have to choose subjects that they'll major in until matriculation. The other grades' pupils get included too.{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-167466689.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921192736/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-167466689.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 September 2014 | title=School's achievements recognised.(Workplace) | work=highbeam.com | date=13 August 2007}}[http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/2012/08/dozens-of-speakers-address-learners-at-sinenjongos-2012-careers-day/ Dozens of speakers address learners at Sinenjongo's 2012 Careers Day | Rabie Blog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923054120/http://www.rabie.co.za/blog/2012/08/dozens-of-speakers-address-learners-at-sinenjongos-2012-careers-day/ |date=23 September 2012 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.rabie.co.za/careers-day-sinenjongo-high-school/ | title=Rabie.co.za Fifth Careers Day for Sinenjongo High School | work=Rabie.co.za | date=11 August 2014}}

Annually there is an academic awards ceremony for the Grade 12 class. It is also their valedictory.{{cite news | url=http://www.rabie.co.za/sinenjongos-valedictory-celebrations/ | title=Sinenjongo's Valedictory Celebrations | publisher=Rabie.co.za | date=16 October 2012 | access-date=13 July 2014}}

A month before the valedictory, the school has a social farewell celebration for the Grade 12 class known as the "Matric Dance" or "Matric Ball"{{cite news | url=http://www.rabie.co.za/dance-spectacular-for-sinenjongo/ | title=Dance spectacular for Sinenjongo | publisher=Rabie.co.za | date=2 October 2012 | access-date=13 July 2014}}

{{Clear}}

{{Commons category}}

File:Sinenjongo High School courtyard.jpg|Old School courtyard in 2013

File:Murals at Sinenjongo.jpg|Murals at Sinenjongo

File:Class in Sinenjongo High School, Joe Slovo Park, Cape Town, South Africa-3341.jpg|Class in session

File:Chess 2014.jpg|Chess 2014

File:A fat cook (Vetkoek).jpeg|A Vetkoek served at the school

File:First Aid 2015.JPG|First Aid 2015

File:Sinenjongo 2014 Wikipedia competition winners.JPG|Sinenjongo 2014 Wikipedia competition winners

File:Sinenjongo graduation matric 2013-10-12 0381.jpg|Ntsika 'prince Lain' Kellem, a graduate of Sinenjongo High School

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Cape Town|education}}

Category:High schools in South Africa

Category:Schools in Cape Town

Category:1993 establishments in South Africa

Category:Articles containing video clips