Former students from Flower Primary School, in Dutywa, came together to honour their former principals for playing influential roles in their lives, and also to assist the current generation of learners.
Among the former students was the MEC for Education, Fundile Gade.
Gade said they were summoned by one of the former students, who then established an alumni association to respond to the social ills that are currently affecting young people of this country.
“Out of that discussion, we then agreed that we have to find a way of ploughing back to the school.
“We said everybody that has been part of this school and the community of Ngxakaxha should do something.
“Today is that day where all of us are here trying to make sure that the school could go back to its glory,” said Gade. He added that Flower was one of the best schools in the province during their time, and that it was famous for producing choristers.
He made an example of J.S Skenjana Senior Secondary School in Dutywa, which many children attended after completing their primary education at Flower. He said that it was still one of the most successful senior secondary schools in the area.
“Today we have made our contributions; we handed over shoes that were donated by one of the businesswomen, Tabisa Binase,” added Gade, who donated some computers to the school.
Money was also donated so that teachers could buy uniforms for those learners that needed some.
Another former student, pharmacist Mncedi Dlova, said they were taught discipline in Flower and, as a result, they are shining everywhere they go.
“Today we are working in different fields because we managed to listen to our principals and we obeyed them. Some of us are serving in parliament and some in different areas,” said Dlova.
He encouraged learners to know that they are going to serve people of South Africa one day, so they should grab all the opportunities they are given.
He said they should listen to their teachers and maintain discipline all the time. One of the former principals who was honoured, Ronald Mbiko, said he came to this school in 1988 and left in 2012. He said he had made sure that he dedicated himself in teaching his learners. He added that they were excelling in everything, including sport.
“I am very happy to see our students who were taught by us, ploughing back to their school,” said Mbiko.
He added that he wished today’s learners could be inspired and do the same when they grow up.
