Teacher takes on challenge to open English-Medium school
Following requests from parents in the Komatipoort-area, a teacher opened a brand new English-Medium school in the town. Their number of pupils have doubled since the doors were opened in January.
KOMATIPOORT – A teacher’s passion for education has led her to open an English-medium primary school in town.
Under the guidance of Jeanette Sambo, Lebombo English-Medium School opened its doors in January with only 20 children. The number has since doubled.
Sambo is a former teacher at Mbambiso Secondary School and was approached by several parents in the Komatipoort area to provide their children with English education. Many of them speak Portuguese at home.
Apart from Dei Gracia, which provides Christian-based education to grade R to two learners, there is no English-medium school in town.
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Sambo took on the challenge, rented buildings in Rissik Street and passionately believes that the school will be successful.
Currently there are five teachers on staff: Sambo, Phillippah Sithole (grade R), Zodwa Khoza (grade one), Abigel Makhukhula (grade two and three) and Lee-Ann Els (grade four to six).
Meals are provided to the learners and there is also a day-care centre, where working parents can safely leave their children.
Sambo has received great support from Marietjie Poulton, principal of Komati Care Centre Preprimary in Orlando. Poulton is also training Sithole, the grade R teacher.
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Pupils’ school fees help Sambo run the school, as she receives no other financial assistance. Despite the challenges, she also helps five children who cannot afford education and are not allowed in other schools because they do not have IDs.
She hopes to assist the children and their parents to get identity documents and says it is important to educate children as this can help reduce crime.
