FYNNLAND Senior Primary School has at its helm a skilled sportsman who is passionate about education and has an adoration of the arts.
The new principal, Dharumdutt Badripersad took up the post as principal on 9 January. He began his teaching career in 1980 at Rylands Primary School in Cape Town.
“Teaching was my calling. I felt I could be of service to the community and the pupils and I love children. With my flair for maths it just seemed like the right choice and I have never considered another profession since then. If I had to relive my life, I would choose the same professional path,” said Dharumdutt with a smile.
He then taught at Brooklyn Heights in Chatsworth and Everest Primary before being promoted to principal in 2017 and taking the helm at Fynnland.
He has settled in well in his new school and post and is enjoying the job. “I feel well-received by the school and the community. There are challenges but I gladly face them and I am willing to work with everyone to achieve the goals for the school.”
Not just an academic success, Dharumdutt has excelled on the volleyball courts too, making it into the provincial volleyball team. He also coached for the United School Sports Association of South Africa, including national players in the U13 and U16 groups.
While he has retired from the national sporting arena, he still does community coaching and has introduced volleyball to the school, which the pupils have been enthusiastic about.
“I fully support the existing extramurals and have employed a coach to train the pupils in these disciplines. The teachers have also assisted in coaching over the years and have done a great job.
I am encouraging my teachers to attend workshops so delivery in class can be more effective. I want to enhance the culture of teaching and learning at our school so as to make Fynnland a school of excellence and I want to contribute to the ethos of the school, working with the community, teachers and pupils to produce a proudly holistic development.”
Dharumdutt lives in Shallcross but said he was eager to relocate to the Bluff. He has been married to a fellow teacher for 35 years and has two daughters – one a doctor who is the CEO of the KwaMashu Community Health Centre and the other is a chartered accountant.
Something many people don’t know about Dharumdutt is he likes to sing. “I enjoy it and in quieter moments, I will start singing and sometimes people will walk in and are surprised to hear me,” he said smiling.
With his devotion to academics, his zeal for sport and his love of singing, he hopes to leave a legacy of scholastic success in the classroom, on the sports field and in the creative arts.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
