Gerhard Matthyse, acting principal of the newly built Witsand Primary School, says despite challenges, including the coronavirus, teachers and non-teaching staff are ready for the school year that lies ahead.
After a 14-year-long campaign for a primary school by Witsand residents, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) finally approved the building of a public school last year.
Matthyse said almost 300 learners had already enrolled at the brand new school, and more are expected.
It still had space for learners in Grade 2, 3 and 4.
Witsand Primary is an English-medium school with two additional language streams – Afrikaans and Xhosa.
The new school will start with 10 educators, with Grade R, 1, 2, 3 and 4, and will add grades with the passing years, Matthyse pointed out.
“Our teachers are very motivated and eager to start the year, to contribute to the educational needs of our learners, and plough their knowledge and expertise into the school,” he said.
According to Matthyse, most of their 2021 school year’s resources, stationery and educational materials have been delivered.
He said there will be challenges but an Interim School Governing Body (SGB) has been elected and the new SGB will be elected in March.
“We want to make it very clear to the communities of Witsand, Atlantis, Pella, Mamre and surrounds that this is a fully inclusive school that caters for everyone,” Matthyse concluded.
