Chenelle Lakay and Libby Jooste began their jobs as the new principals of the two Junior Colleges in Fourways (JC Fourways and JC Gardens) last month, and have big things in mind for their school’s futures.
Both women were promoted from within Junior College’s existing staff. Lakay has been working for the school for about nine years and Jooste for eight.
“When a principal spot opens up, we try to fill it internally if possible,” said Jooste. “This is because the person taking over needs to understand the JC early-years-foundation-stage system of teaching that the school uses, and must also have experience with every age group that JC has.”
Jooste and Lakay have experience in spades. Lakay started out working as a teacher at JC Gardens in 2008, a job that she did for five years. In 2014, she was promoted to the position of principal of JC Fourways and in September she took up her current position as principal of JC Gardens.
Jooste also started as a teacher at JC Gardens in 2009 until the end of 2012. In early 2013, her daughter was born, and she decided to continue working at the school, but as a secretary while her child was still young. In July, she was made acting principal of JC Fourways once Lakay had left, and in September her title of principal was made official.
Although both principals admit that the current economic state in South Africa has meant that parents are less likely to send their children to nursery schools such as the Junior Colleges, they do have hope for the schools’ futures.
“We’re looking into creating a futuristic education curriculum, which will make the classroom layout with fewer lines and more comfortable spaces for the children to learn in,” explained Lakay. “In the future, our classes will look very different, with smaller desks and floor mats making learning seem more playful.
“The type of teaching will change too. Soon it will be less of a case of teachers lecturing at the children, and more about the kids learning from each other as the teachers act as facilitators.”
