IT’S A C . . . LADY TAIT P ENTURY!

LADY Tait Primary School reaches the 100-year milestone this year, having enrolled it’s first learners in 1924.

Over the years, Lady Tait Primary School has helped lay the foundation for the education of thousands of people who have gone on to be successful in the corporate sector, sport, politics and Government.

To mark the day, celebrations have been lined up where the current administration is bringing together former learners of the school and parents to help in shaping it’s direction into the future.

HISTORY

Lady Tait Primary School opened its doors on April 24, 1924 to cater for the Indian and coloured communities with an enrolment of six learners.

It started off on a location about 300 metres from the current school premises along the old Chakari Road which linked Rio Tinto Mine and Chakari.

The school was designed to cater for children from the three mines of Effiel Flats, Rio Tinto and Golden Valley.

With the attainment of Independence in 1980,the school started enrolling native learners.

The first native headmaster Mr Lazarus Hofisi said the first mission was to create more learning space for the increasing number of learners.

MR LAZARUS HOFISI

“The school was designed to cater for a small number of learners and we had to create space as we only had one block,” said Mr Hofisi.

“We had to use the Kewada Hall, which we partitioned into four classrooms until we built classrooms.”

Kewada Hall was donated to the school by the Kewada family, which had some of their children enrolled at the school over the years.

The school’s history is not complete without Mr Nebaot Mwamlowe who has been a teacher at the school since 1988.

He has been at the school for 36 years of the 100year existence.

“I share a long history with the school and the bond is unbreakable. Above all the love and passion to be instrumental in shaping children has kept me going over the years,” said Mr Mwamlowe.

Another long serving teacher Mrs Naome Mugogo who teaches the Grade 2 class said 100 years was a major milestone, which she is proud to be part of.

MRS NAOME MUGOGO

“I am so happy to be part of such a long and rich history. We look forward to a glorious and successful future,” she said.

Long serving bursar Mrs Esteri Chivete who has been at the school for 20 years expressed satisfaction with her contribution towards the development of the school.

“We have helped to manage the school funds over the years,” said Mrs Chivete.

Current headmaster Mr Umali Kaluma has presided over the construction of more classroom blocks.

MR UMALI KALUMA

“We want to replicate the successes of the past where Lady Tait Primary School was a key player in sport. This means attention to the outlook of the school, improvement of sporting facilities so that we are competitive,” said Mr Kaluma.

School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson Mr Tinashe Shava said the committee is working to upgrade the quality of the school.

MR TINASHE SHAVA

“As a school that is now 100 years we need to work on improving everything about the school so that it reflects the road we have travelled,” said Mr Shava.

“We want to improve the school’s outlook and the sporting facilities so that we remain competitive.”