NPSS officially opened

Netherland Park Secondary School (NPSS) is now officially Ermelo’s newest English medium high school.

The school had its modest beginnings in Wesselton in January 2012 with only four classes at the Ithemba Teachers Training Centre.

A year later the school moved to the Nederland Park area where the site was still bare and empty.

From the then 11 mobile classes, six mobile toilets and one mobile structure for administration, the school has been on an exciting journey, with building operations steadily progressing towards the final product.

Fast forward to 1 June this year.

Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Ms Reginah Mhaule, officially handed over the NPSS to the school principal, Mr Herman Roodt, and chairman of the school governing body (SGB), Mr King Nsibande.

After 915 days of building, with 840 000 bricks used and 131 doors and frames installed, 28 classrooms, an administration block, a laboratory, library, computer centre, hall and 40 toilets were completed and NPSS was able to accommodate its learners in a functional and attractive structure.

The MEC expressed her satisfaction with the way in which the R42-million was spent on the project.

Before unveiling the plaque, Ms Mhaule and the guests were taken on a tour round the school, where she also witnessed some of the technology used by the school. One teacher demonstrated the use of the whiteboard of which the school has 16.

Ms Mhaule, Mr Roodt and municipal representative Cllr Precious Nkosi planted a tree after the tour of the school before the official handover.

Speaking to parents, learners and other officials in a packed school hall, Ms Mhaule thanked the community of Msukaligwa Local Municipality for their patience as the department worked towards the completion of the project.

“Now that the school is complete, it is important that as the community you take ownership and protect it against theft and vandalism. Let us teach our children that a school is not just a structure, but a beacon of hope where most individuals start building the future for a successful life,” she said.

During an interview with the newspaper, Mr Roodt said he, his staff,the SGB and the learners were very excited about the handover and are looking forward to good results.

He also mentioned that their laboratory still needs equipment, but the MEC promised that they would look into it, as well as making sure that they have proper sports fields.

Next year NPSS will have its first group of Grade 12 learners and Ms Mhaule encouraged them to apply for admission to universities and for bursaries in good time.

Mr Roodt said they were looking forward to achieving good results.

His sentiments were echoed by two of the school’s Grade 11 learners, Menzi Zulu and Gift Sigudla, who said they are excited about their school, but are also saddened by the fact that they will be gone as the school evolves to being one of the competitive schools in Ermelo.

NPSS presently enrols learners from Grade 8 to 11 and has 571 learners with 249 boys and 272 girls.
Mukhumuli Construction Company was commended for its work on the project.

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