PHOTO: STEVEN MAKHANYA
FOR the past 100 years Manzamnyama Primary School has been empowering its local Mkhwanazi and Mzimela communities through education.
Teachers, parents, local chiefs, Indunas, educational authorities and the school’s alumni, gathered at the school on Thursday to celebrate its 100 years of existence.
The school, named after the Manzamnyama River and built on land donated by local Induna Madevu Dube was established by Norwegian missionaries in 1915.
Zimeme and Siyabonga are two local high schools born out of Manzamnyama.
UThungulu Education Director David Chonco thanked the Dube family for donating the land on which the school is built.
Chonco commended the school for its cleanliness, and said the school is in safe hands, under the leadership of Principal Thulani Matlena and his teachers.
‘The June 16, 1976 generation shaped the education we have today.
‘They used stones and sticks to fight the Verwoerdian education system he imposed on black people.
But today’s youth should be stone gatherers-who must use sand, rocks and concrete to build bridges and dams, after qualifying as engineers and artisans,’ Chonco added.
He challenged all those who studied at the school, to come and plough back whatever resources the school needs.
Poor matric results
Chonco condemned the strikes held by local high schools last year, which resulted in poor matric results.
‘Mashananandana, Zimeme and Siyabonga High were the worst performing schools under uThungulu last year, and I warn parents if their children break something, they have to fix it themselves.
‘As the Education Department we have adopted the ‘you break it, you fix it’ policy, to teach school children the responsibility of looking after their property,’ Chonco warned.
