College handed over to new owner
Pitallo assured parents that his retirement would not affect the performance of learners as he had confidence in the new owner.
NELSPRUIT – After 25 years of passionately heading Nelspruit Private College, owner and director handed it over to a new owner on Tuesday.
Mr Leon Pitallo who started the school in his garage in 1989, has sold it to Mr Colbert Kouatcho who also owns Metropolitan College in White River. Pitallo started by offering extra lessons and got into trouble many times with the municipality for enrolling black learners.
He started with only 14 pupils, and today the school enrols more than 300. According to Pitallo, the highlights of the school which include a number of 100 per cent matric passes, and producing specialists, have been overwhelming.
“It is a great pleasure to be retiring knowing that I played a huge role in producing leaders in the nation. One of my previous learners, is a dean of a faculty at the University of Cape Town,” he boasted.
During the official hand over and farewell, the emotional staff members extended their gratitude for teaching them everything in the profession. They also said that he had played a huge role in nation building by instilling discipline and respect in them and the learners.
“When I got here 15 years ago, I thought I knew everything in the profession but later realised that I knew nothing. I was actually educated here, at high school after graduating from university,” said Miss Elize Breytenbach, one of the staff members.
Kouatcho, the new owner, said that he learned everything about leadership from Intel whom he said spotted his ability to lead and honed it. He promised learners and parents that the standard of education would not decline.
“One of the conditions of running the school was that I should never bring the standard down. I can boldly promise that I will do better because sometimes the learner does better than the teacher,” chuckled Kouatcho.
Pitallo assured parents that his retirement would not affect the performance of learners as he had confidence in the new owner.
“I trust that Mr Kouatcho will take the school to even greater heights. My door will always be open to him if he needs advice,” he concluded.
