Outgoing Glen Austin High School deputy head boy, Nigel Tsoka and deputy head girl Ziphozonke Mathole believe they have executed their roles with aplomb.
The Grade 12 learners, who started with their preliminary exams on August 29 and will soon be leaving the school after final exams, shared the same sentiments regarding open communication between the learners, teachers and members of the school governing body (SGB).
Nigel (19) said it was important for them as the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) committee to have close relationships with each and every learner despite the grades other learners are in.
“[Having] conflicts within the committee will not help us in terms of executing our roles. And for us, it is very important that our peers can come to us because some are not comfortable with speaking to their parents and teachers, but it’s easy for them to speak to us. ” said Nigel.
He said the learners in lower grades look up to them as their ‘older siblings’ who can they can talk to and hopes the next committee will continue from where they left of.
Nigel described the relationship within the committee as ‘having a good relationship’ because everyone knew what their jobs were and there was no animosity.
For Ziphozonke (18) it is about teamwork and she described it as an imperative aspect of the committee.
She said her strategy was interacting with all the learners in order to build relationships with all her peers. “Once there is conflict within the committee, then the school will not function properly because for example if Nigel and I do not get along, then the committee will fail to represent other learners.
“We have the spirit committee who organises events and fun activities for all learners. We work with the spirit committee and take their ideas to Ms [Robyn] Gill – who is our HOD of discipline.”
She said the committee held its meeting every Thursday or Friday to update each other if there were problems encountered at the school.
Teacher Robyn Gill said, “Our prefects have helped us in running the school. Their input was taken into serious consideration by us [the teachers] and the SGB. I think they have truly helped us a lot and I wish them all the best in their preliminary exams.”
She said they will be working on getting a new RCL committee that will stand in for the Grade 12 learners.
Gill also wished all the Grade 12 learners good luck for their final exams, saying the school was hoping for a 100% pass rate.
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