The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Ms Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, visited Bedfordview High School last Wednesday to mark the first day of school.
She was representing the Education MEC, Mr Panyaza Lesufi.
Ms Nkosi-Malobane said the purpose of the visit was to affirm government support for the school.
“We are here to give you support and to encourage you to do more,” she said.
Principal Mr Mpho Tshisudi said as much as the school remains committed to the agenda of the government, more support was needed.
“We are currently classified as a Quintile 5, which means we are, according to the classification, a rich school. We need government to change this because we are admit pupils from poor communities. Our pupils hail from areas like the Makawuse informal settlement, Malvern, Wychwood and as far as Soweto. Their parents are from the so-called historically disadvantaged communities and they often fail to afford school fees,” said Mr Tshisudi.
According to the classifications, schools that fall in Quintile 5 are the least poorest, while those in Quintile 1 are the poorest.
Mr Tshisudi said the school has been able to open the door to quality education for pupils who hail from poor families.
“We took a decision to accept pupils who are from outside our area because we saw it as an opportunity to give them good quality education in an affluent area,” he said.
He said since taking over the school in 2014, the matric pass rate has drastically improved.
“In 2013 the pass rate was at 47 percent. In 2014 we managed to get to 83 percent. This we managed to do because we care about the future of the black child. We put in the hours and the work to get to the results,” said Mr Tshisudi.
He said the school has vowed to produce youngsters who will actively contribute to the economy.
“We are not here to produce the working poor. We mean business and we refuse to produce children only good enough to work in retail stores,” he said
He said the school has done away with Maths Literacy.
“We are now a Maths school. This means that we only offer pure maths. We do this to make sure that by the time they finish matric, our pupils have a chance to be accepted at universities and can qualify for superior degrees,” said Mr Tshisudi.
Ms Nkosi-Malobane said as far as funding is concerned, the School Governing Body (SGB) needs to show what the school has done with the funds previously received before asking for more.
“The SGB must make sure the oversight goes well at the school. We are always willing to engage further. This is a school we will continue to invest in,” she said.
Ms Nkosi-Malobane urged unions to not compromise on children’s education.
“Teachers must teach. Pupils must learn and parents must parent their children. Government will always give support,” she said.
Mr Tshisudi said although the school achieved an 81 percent pass rate in 2015, the goal is to get a 100 percent pass rate with university entries and distinctions.
