Turfhall Primary School unveils new media centre to inspire young readers

A buzz of energy, excitement, and laughter filled Turfhall Primary School as it officially opened its brand-new media centre on Friday, January 23 — a vibrant space dedicated to knowledge-sharing and skills development for its pupils.

The newly refurbished media centre is set to serve as a hub for reading, research, and learning, equipping pupils with essential skills to effectively enhance and manage their schoolwork. 

Principal Bradley Bouah said the media centre would play a vital role in encouraging pupils to develop a love for books and reading. He believes positive academic results will also flow from the initiative.

“This is a historic and momentous occasion for our school. We are truly fortunate — Turfhall Primary was once visited by Nelson Mandela. We are a lucky school,” said Mr Bouah. He emphasised the importance of reading, noting that “readers are leaders”.

The space features a full-time librarian, engaging events, and literacy programmes aimed at inspiring young readers. The development has also been strengthened through partnerships with other libraries and schools.

“The centre will help strengthen relationships between teachers and pupils. We also have a partnership with another school that we support by donating books and resources, and we will continue to do so,” said Mr Bouah.

Media centre co-ordinator Shereen Schaffers described the opening as a dream come true for both herself and the school community. She said the centre was made possible through various fundraising initiatives, including book fairs, and reflects years of dedication and hard work.

“This forms part of our curriculum. Learners will spend half an hour here enjoying reading. We are grateful to our sponsors who donated laptops and other materials. Our children will read for enjoyment,” she said.

The centre can accommodate up to 20 pupils at a time and has been designed to inspire learning, creativity, and collaboration among both pupils and staff.

Circuit manager Anusha Naidoo encouraged schools to invest in their development, emphasising the need for adequate resources. She said the media centre would contribute to community empowerment by improving literacy and education, which were key to sustainable development.

“We are surrounded by too much technology. We need to go back to basics — back to books. Let’s get our children to love reading, visit libraries, and blend technology with traditional books,” said Ms Naidoo.

She reminded pupils that education was the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world, urging them to keep reading and to take pride in caring for their library.

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