The much-anticipated new Humansdorp Primary School will open its doors in January 2026, offering education from Grades R to 7 with English as the Language of Learning and Teaching.
Applications for the fee-paying school are now open, with a closing date of 30 August 2025.
As previously reported, the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust (KWFCDT), in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Education and with support from the Kouga Local Municipality, is developing the school and associated sports fields and facilities in Boskloof, Humansdorp.
Prince Matonsi, General Manager, KWFCDT, said that the site clearance using manual methods was concluded in mid-July.
However, construction has not yet commenced.
“The site handover to the successful bidder is scheduled for August, and construction is scheduled to start in September 2025 with a plan B in place to host the school in temporary structures should there be delays in completing construction in time,” said Matonsi.
Local residents have welcomed the news, particularly citing the urgent need to address overcrowding in existing schools.
Sindiswa Witbooi, who has an 8-year-old granddaughter living with her, explained that most schools in Humansdorp are experiencing significant overcrowding due to the influx of learners from surrounding areas and local farms.
“There is an influx of learners in the schools. In one class, a teacher has to teach about 40 to 50 learners,” said Witbooi.
She believes that the new school will make a significant difference in assisting with the overcrowding.
“Having fewer learners in a class will help teachers provide individual assistance to learners where needed,” said Witbooi.
She expressed appreciation for the initiative and thanked the KWFCDT for giving back to the community.
Witbooi said the new school is proof that KWFCDT is willing to assist the community.
Xolani Woni, who has three children aged 16, 13, and 6, sees the new school as an opportunity to address several educational challenges facing the community.
“Overcrowding is a very serious issue, as insufficient individual attention may lead children to misbehave because they are not being properly supported,” said Woni.
“Many children hang out with bad groups because of this, and their school marks are low.”
Woni believes that the new school environment could help break negative cycles, as having a new school in Humansdorp would be beneficial to the community.
“The children would be in a new environment, where there might be fewer children in each classroom, giving the teachers enough time to be able to give the much-needed attention to each learner. This can also help with putting an end to gangsterism, which often begins at the primary school level,” said Woni.
Woni, who may send his youngest child to the new school, emphasised the importance of collaboration.
He said that it would be great if they could create an environment where everyone works together towards creating a better future for the children.
Woni said that he wanted to thank those involved in the development of the new school.
“A word of thanks to the people who came up with the idea of having another primary school in Humansdorp. I hope that the learners will be well-mannered and not turn into gangsters, seeing that it is a big problem we are facing in our schools,” said Woni.
Parents interested in enrolling their children can collect application forms from the Humansdorp CMC Office at 19 Heugh Street, Humansdorp.
Online applications are also available through the KWF Community Development Trust’s Facebook page, where parents can access the Google form.
