Since Global Leadership Academy’s establishment 15 years ago, the Jeffreys Bay-based school has come a long way, cementing itself as a beacon of academic excellence. Now the school plans to expand its curriculum to offer technical subjects for learners interested in engineering and artisanry.
Principal Stefan Kleyn said the 2023 matric results reaffirmed GLA’s commitment to excellence, with their matric class outperforming over 800 high schools in the Eastern Cape.
“We are proud to announce that GLA achieved the highest bachelor’s pass rate in the province, among schools administering the National Senior Certificate,” said Kleyn.
He said after careful consideration, the board of directors, school management team, and School Governing Body have approved the addition of a new technical stream of subjects to be added from 2025, which will expand the subject choices at GLA.
Kleyn said that this new stream of subjects is specific to the fields of engineering and construction, and provides a very strong base from which their learners can further their studies in various engineering disciplines, but also benefits the direct employability of learners completing the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC).
He further said that the new subjects will provide learners opting to follow a technical educational stream with the option to choose between civil technology or electrical technology.
Kleyn said learners aiming at furthering their training as engineers will have to take mathematics and physical sciences, as well as engineering graphics and design, while learners not intending to further a bachelor’s degree could opt for technical mathematics and technical sciences instead.
As the inaugural phase of development, he said that GLA will dedicate the next three years to fully integrate the additional subjects, which will entail the establishment of new classrooms and workshops.
However, Kleyn said they are already embarking on offering the four new subjects, which include civil technology, electrical technology, technical mathematics, and technical sciences for the Grade 10 class of 2025.
He said that phase two of the expansion will encompass the establishment of a fully-equipped artisan school.
Kleyn said that once the municipal approval process is completed, they will be ready to start construction of the first classrooms which they hope to occupy by January 2025.
He said the four classrooms will accommodate the first Grade 10 learners choosing civil technology or electrical technology as subjects.
“Once completed, the new technical department at GLA will include fully-equipped workshops, makers’ spaces, and additional classrooms. Other facilities such as offices, meeting rooms, and bathrooms all form part of this new addition,” said Kleyn.
“To accommodate the requirements of technical subjects, workshops necessary to facilitate practical learning and skills development are a requirement. GLA is also open to partnerships where learners are afforded the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience.”
Kouga executive mayor, Hattingh Bornman, said that Jeffreys Bay’s status as the fastest-growing town in the Eastern Cape emphasises the urgency of initiatives aimed at nurturing local talent and fuelling economic vitality.
“Establishing a technical stream of subjects at GLA aligns perfectly with this imperative, equipping our learners with the practical skills necessary to contribute to our dynamic local economy,” said Bornman.
Kleyn said that the response from learners and parents regarding the four new subjects has been very positive, and on May 22 the school will host an information session for all those interested in learning about the school’s vision, future plans, and how more people can get involved.
The information session will start at 18:00 at the school.
“We want to emphasise the significance of implementing a technical stream for high school learners within Kouga. This initiative is not just a crucial progression for GLA, but it is also a pivotal step for the broader Kouga community,” said Kleyn.
For more information contact the school at 042 293 3053 or email principal@gla-jbay.org.
