MPL visits top performing Jiyane Secondary School

On January 9 DA PR Cllr Maserishane Debeila and DA national spokesperson MPL Refiloe Nt’sekhe conducted an oversight visit at Jiyane Secondary School in Ward 11 to see if the school was ready to resume its teaching duties.

Nt’sekhe said upon arrival, they were met by chaos at the school.

“Congress of South African Students (Cosas) members were outside the school with a crowd of learners.

“The Cosas members were threatening the principal of the school, Christina Maserumula, they would shut down the school – pointing and screaming at her,” said Nt’sekhe.

She said once the meeting started, Maserumula indicated the gates were closed because the learners were late and when she had a teacher available she would immediately go and take register of the late-comers.

“As the meeting progressed, one realised she had turned the school from dysfunctional and nicknamed “yizo-yizo” to a high-performing school, achieving a 98.5% pass rate with the matric class of 2018 and 95% in 2017.

“The school has a strict code of conduct for learners which is put up in every classroom. Some of the conditions being violated by learners are arriving late, painted nails and having hairstyles that are not appropriate for the school,” Nt’sekhe explained.

Nt’sekhe added that Maserumula told them the school has 1 744 registered learners and is an English-medium school with 56 teachers.

She said the average teacher to learner ratio is 1:45, but the concentration is mainly controlled by the teacher rotation and specialisation, including new subjects that have been introduced into the curriculum, like life orientation.

“There is an active and supportive school governing body (SGB) reinforcing the notion that where the SGB understands their role and is active, a school performs better.

“This is a complete no-fee paying school and it offers a nutrition programme, ensuring learners attend classes with a full stomach.

“Teenage pregnancy is low, never exceeding more than 10 learners and most being in Grade 12. Although the school does not have a counsellor, they have organised that a social worker visits every Wednesday,” Nt’sekhe said.

After the meeting with Maserumula, there was a tour of the school: smart classrooms, kitchen for the nutrition programme, computer labs and a science lab.

“There are some initiatives taken by the principal and her teachers. They run afternoon and Saturday classes to assist learners who are struggling or just want additional help.

“The main sports they compete in are soccer and netball and basketball is played socially.

“Some teachers run extramural activities after school, like sewing, beadwork and other arts and crafts. They also have a choir and indigenous games.

“The principal is really an unsung heroine – committed to achieving incredible results under very difficult conditions,” said Nt’sekhe.