Officials from the Eastern Cape Department of Education last week hosted a welcoming of the delegation from the Nelson Mandela School of Germany that will partake in the St John’s College learner exchange programme.
The District Director for the Department of Education in OR Tambo Inland, Fundiswa Makrwede, said that, as the Department of the Education in the Eastern Cape and the Department of Education in OR Tambo Inland where St John’s College is situated, they were very excited about this relationship.
According to her, Germany is one of the big brothers. It is one of the countries they can lean on, and take what can fit them as South Africans.
She added that this relationship will really capacitate their schools, and they are going to benefit in terms of learning and exposing their culture as South Africa.
One of the learners from Nelson Mandela School in Germany, Max Dinke (17), said he was very excited about this programme and to know more about the culture of OR Tambo District, and the place of the late Dr Nelson Mandela.
“Culture is very important because it shapes us to know more about us; I believe we can learn from each other and I will be excited to learn more cultures, instead of knowing mine only,” said Dinke.
One of the learners from St John’s College, Siyahluma Lamla (16), said the relationship they have, and are currently building with the Germans and this school, is opening opportunities for other learners.
“Students who are coming from places where there are less opportunities to shine get more opportunity in this relationship. I heard about it this year, but the programme itself started last year, when the teachers from Germany came here, so it is an ongoing thing,” said Lamla.
He added that he was not involved in this programme last year, because he was busy with his studies as his academic results were not good.
He said he had to focus on his studies, but this year he is lucky to be involved in this programme. Lamla added that the theme of the programme is called Aluta Continua, meaning the struggle for social justice continues.
One of the teachers from Nelson Mandela School in Germany, Paul Curtis, said they had tried for some years to find a school in South Africa for a very long time.
He said it was easy to find the schools, but they were not fit for this kind of programme.
He added that some were very expensive, and they made a breakthrough in 2023 and got St John’s College.
“We made a visit to this school last year. We were happy to see the school and students, including teachers, and they were so fantastic. We had a feeling that this was really going to work,” said Curtis.
He added that the theme of the programme is “The Struggle for Social Justice Continues”, meaning they are really looking at the ideas of justice and injustice, as they apply to Germany and South Africa.
