Vryheid boasts the 4th best performing high school in the country

ON a farm overlooking the peaceful serenity of the Bloemveld Dam, a 500m stretch of dusty, gravel road on the outskirts of Vryheid leads to one of the best performing high schools in South Africa.

Inkamana High is the fourth best performing high school in the country, according to the matric results of 2018. The previous year, the school was ranked number two among the best performing schools in SA.

There wasn’t a single learner in Inkamana matric class of 2018, who didn’t obtain at least one A symbol.

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The class average is 74%, with Thando Mdletshe being the number one academic achiever having obtained seven A’s with an average to 86%. Nokwanda Xaba is the second highest academic achiever. Among the rest of Inkamana’s matric learners, eight learners obtained A symbols in four subjects, six learners obtained 3 A’s, three learners obtained 2 A’s and two learners obtained 1A. None of the subjects written were failed.

We asked school principal of 21 years, Isabel Steenkamp, what it is that sets Inkamana apart, ensuring that its matric learners obtain great results year after year.

“Academics is very important but accounts for only half of what we do here at Inkamana. Just as important, is the school’s skills and wellness program. We aim for the holistic development of the child and the trick to our success is that we also aim to enhance the emotion intelligence, spiritual growth, and leadership skills of each learner,” says Mrs Steenkamp. “That makes a big difference.”

She continues, “As young adults, learners need to learn how to bounce back when they face inevitable crises. They also need guidance in terms of study skills, coping with high school, and choosing subjects and careers. We teach them how to make good choices so that, not only does each child’s education benefit them as an individual, but each individual also becomes a responsible citizen who makes a valuable impact in the community.”

Keep in mind, however, that Inkamana only enrolls 10% of the 400+ grade 8 learners that send in their applications each year. Those learners who are enrolled are only accepted at the school if they are found to be ‘a good fit’ following a rigorous and in-depth interview process.

“It is true that we want to attract learners to the school who embrace education and we have been accused of only taking in ‘the cream of the crop’, but you will find learners of varying learning levels and abilities here at Inkamana.

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“What makes the difference is that we have fewer children in a class than most public schools. This allows the teachers to pay individual attention to each and every learner. The staff and the learners come to know each other very well. The typical Inkamana teacher has a great passion for education and genuinely cares about the development of each and every individual child. As a teacher, you can’t just impart knowledge. A person is not only a brain. A person is also a heart and a soul.”

Mrs Steenkamp feels the biggest challenge in most schools may be the overcrowding of classrooms, where it becomes impossible for the teacher to pay special attention to each and every child.

The core mission has remained the same for 96 years, since the school was opened 1923, “To prepare learners for tertiary education with a focus on the rural child.”

“Inkamana strives to instill the belief that, ‘I can do it!’ in each and every single learner,” concluded Mrs Steenkamp.