Mdantsane's very first senior school Mzomhle High School, celebrates 50 years next week.
Pupils, both present and past, call their school Mzogrand meaning fine house which is an indication of the quality of education they believe they got from the school.
Jilaji admitted that she has watched the standard of the school decline as socio-economic factors have impacted.
“Over the years the quality of students deteriorated, they were no longer from wealthy stable families, and urbanisation took place and informal settlements developed. Before we knew it our came from informal settlements and child-headed homes.
“Children were looking after their grandparents and their problems became more than just worrying about their books.”
Jilaji said that the quality of teachers deteriorated just the same. “The school was known for its 100% pass rate and the principal and parents would not accept any reason for a child failing after having had the pupil in your care for a full year. As teachers you had to account.
“Throughout my years I tried to encourage parent involvement but it was always the grandparents who came to the party, even if it meant they could collapse during a meeting.”
Jilaji said she lived to see Mzomhle return to being the school she walked into in 1975, but for this to happen it had to start with pupils, parents and teachers working collectively.
Newly-appointed principal Malusi Koltana, who won the secondary school leadership national teaching awards in 2015, succeeded Jilaji as headmaster and believes he and his team will drive the school to new heights.
“The majority of our staff are women, which puts us at an advantage because women are muscle and work very well together, sharing the same goals. At the moment we have 658 pupils, but I intend taking that number to 1000.”
Koltana said he aimed to use the opportunity of the school’s 50th birthday celebrations to engage with past pupils who can also plough back and help develop the school structure to create a modern, learning-condusive environment for current pupils.
“In July Thoza Gabelana, a past pupil donated 25 computers to the school which have come in very handy, and that is what we are looking for – donations from past pupils who are proud of where they come from and are ready to take this school to where it used to be.”
Former pupil Silumko Tsotsi, who is currently head of department at Eglin Academy in Scotland, has created an exchange programme with Mzomhle where teachers from the academy conduct workshops with teachers within Mzomhle and other schools within the township about effective teaching methods.
“Next year we would like to have the new school model readily available, whereby we can have a proper rugby field and refurbished classrooms created by our past pupils. The school has been abuzz ahead of its celebrations which will be held next week where past pupils, present pupils and friends of Mzomhle will be treated to an array of activities celebrating the school’s birthday. Activities are expected to conclude with a gala dinner next week Friday at the city hall at R250 for double tickets and R150 single tickets.”
For more information please call Malusi Koltana on 084-844-4009 or Zamikhaya Gxabe on 084-403-7793.
Mzomhle turns big 50: Mdantsane’s first senior school celebrates rich heritage
Pupils, both present and past, call their school Mzogrand meaning fine house which is an indication of the quality of education they believe they got from the school.
Jilaji admitted that she has watched the standard of the school decline as socio-economic factors have impacted.
“Over the years the quality of students deteriorated, they were no longer from wealthy stable families, and urbanisation took place and informal settlements developed. Before we knew it our came from informal settlements and child-headed homes.
“Children were looking after their grandparents and their problems became more than just worrying about their books.”
Jilaji said that the quality of teachers deteriorated just the same. “The school was known for its 100% pass rate and the principal and parents would not accept any reason for a child failing after having had the pupil in your care for a full year. As teachers you had to account.
“Throughout my years I tried to encourage parent involvement but it was always the grandparents who came to the party, even if it meant they could collapse during a meeting.”
Jilaji said she lived to see Mzomhle return to being the school she walked into in 1975, but for this to happen it had to start with pupils, parents and teachers working collectively.
Newly-appointed principal Malusi Koltana, who won the secondary school leadership national teaching awards in 2015, succeeded Jilaji as headmaster and believes he and his team will drive the school to new heights.
“The majority of our staff are women, which puts us at an advantage because women are muscle and work very well together, sharing the same goals. At the moment we have 658 pupils, but I intend taking that number to 1000.”
Koltana said he aimed to use the opportunity of the school’s 50th birthday celebrations to engage with past pupils who can also plough back and help develop the school structure to create a modern, learning-condusive environment for current pupils.
“In July Thoza Gabelana, a past pupil donated 25 computers to the school which have come in very handy, and that is what we are looking for – donations from past pupils who are proud of where they come from and are ready to take this school to where it used to be.”
Former pupil Silumko Tsotsi, who is currently head of department at Eglin Academy in Scotland, has created an exchange programme with Mzomhle where teachers from the academy conduct workshops with teachers within Mzomhle and other schools within the township about effective teaching methods.
“Next year we would like to have the new school model readily available, whereby we can have a proper rugby field and refurbished classrooms created by our past pupils. The school has been abuzz ahead of its celebrations which will be held next week where past pupils, present pupils and friends of Mzomhle will be treated to an array of activities celebrating the school’s birthday. Activities are expected to conclude with a gala dinner next week Friday at the city hall at R250 for double tickets and R150 single tickets.”
For more information please call Malusi Koltana on 084-844-4009 or Zamikhaya Gxabe on 084-403-7793.
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