AFTER diligently serving the school for almost two decades, Ernst van Biljon, principal of Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld High School, will retire at the end of April.
Van Biljon has not only served the school for 19 years, but the entire community of Kempton Park and Tembisa.
Born in Port Elizabeth, Van Biljon grew up in Pretoria. He obtained a Higher Education Diploma and Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Pretoria.
He started teaching woodwork and metalwork in 1980 and came to Sir Pierre in 1984 as the extramural activities teacher.
Also read:
• Kempton Park Primary’s new principal has dynamic vision
• Jeugpark principal makes the grade
• New secondary school principal for Shangri-La
In 1988 he was appointed deputy principal for Western High School in Mayfair, Johannesburg. Two years later he became principal at Malvern High School, a position he occupied for seven and a half years.
Van Biljon came back to Sir Pierre in 1997 as headmaster.
Since then, he gave his all to the school. “I believe I was born to be an educator,” says the man who spent 36 years in the profession.
“It excites me to bump into people I taught and they are now grandparents. I have taught generations and generations and I am so blessed to have found a career so fulfilling,” he says.
He is grateful to have found great mentors as a young teacher. He remembers Mr Davel and Mr Rohrs, the former headmaster.
Asked what he would miss about his career, Van Biljon, after a moment of silence, said: “I am going to miss these kids.”
Indeed, learners in sport will remember how they used to surround him when leading them through a war cry, “Chasawaka!”
His highlights include having led successful integration and transformation systems and having achieved unity among the teaching staff. He, however, praises his deputies, Maggie Wrigley and Brian Naidoo, for being so helpful.
He takes his hat off to the HoDs and the whole teaching and administration staff. “I was a principal because of them. If we won, we won together,” he says.
He had this to say to the learners: “Use every opportunity to the fullest. Play less and work hard.”
To the parents he said: “Parents should be involved. No school can operate without parents’ involvement.”
Kgabo Sathekge, an educator at the school and a NAPTOSA (National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA) representative, had this to say on behalf of the teaching staff: “He has been a great man to work with. He taught us great leadership. He has outstanding interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills and is a leader who follows policy and protocol. The school will miss him, particularly the learners.”
Elina Maphanga, a learner representative, said: “We hoped he could leave at the end of the year but we understand he has to leave. It is so sad. He loved us, he has been more than a school principal. We wish him all the best.”
Speaking on behalf of the school governing body, Peet Baartman said: “What a wise man with a wealth of experience, so humble and easy to work with. Sir, the SGB says go and enjoy your well-deserved long leave. We will make sure you always smile when hearing about this school.”
