De Vos Malan Primary turns 75
Call for parent participation to improve kids’ future
FORMER De Vos Malan Primary School principal Reginald du Plessis believes job creation and improved parent participation is key to changing the fortunes of children.
Du Plessis, 75, was speaking at the school’s 75th anniversary celebration last week where teachers, both past and present, were honoured for their excellent service to the school.
The event was held at the Weiss Memorial Church in Highfield Road.
Almost 30 past and present teachers, who spent 25 years or more at the school, received commemorative plaques with their names and their contributions to the school engraved on them.
With a current staff complement of 25 teachers servicing 923 pupils from Grade R to Grade 7, the Schauderville primary school is a far cry from days gone by.
Started in 1942, it consisted of a single block of classrooms and an administration office.
Now it boasts 26 classrooms, an administrative block and a computer lab.
School principal from 1972 to 1989, Du Plessis experienced many highs and lows during his time in the hot seat.
From the school burning down in 1977, to being rebuilt with the help of the Department of Public Works in the mid1980s, and the excitement of participating and winning various competitions, he has seen it all.
“All we know is some guys broke in, they were probably looking for money or something they could sell, but it was dark, so they lit some papers or something to provide some light, and that, we believe, is what caused the fire. The school burnt down very quickly,” he said.
Du Plessis said the school was rebuilt in the mid-1980s, as teaching continued in pre-fabricated classrooms sponsored by neighbouring schools.
Du Plessis encouraged parents to become more involved in their children’s school lives.
He also stressed the importance of job creation for young adults who have completed their tertiary education.
“Parents have to play their role as parents, they have to educate their children at home to have respect for each other, to have respect for life and property, that is essential,” he said.
On job creation, Du Plessis said young graduates obtained a tertiary education with a view of improving themselves but also getting a good job.
He said they often became despondent and were not able to fulfil their potential if they struggled to find employment.
Current school principal Johnny Jansen, 52, who has been with the school for three years, said the school still faced many challenges, including pupils with a low entry level knowledge, lack of infrastructure, societal problems like Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, gangsterism and drug abuse.
He echoed Du Plessis’s sentiments in calling on parents to become more involved in their children’s school lives and said the school’s door would always be open to parents.
“We have parent meetings at the beginning and end of each term; appointments to see educators about their children after school hours can also be made.”
Jansen said he was happy the school was functioning as normal, but said his vision was to see further improvements such as the building of a school hall, improved security measures and computer classes for all pupils.