Learners of The Gates of Hope School in Hazyview showed off their foodie talents by cooking their own meals at school.

The Gates of Hope principal, Sindisiwe Maluka, said this was part of testing the learners’ skills, focusing on their ability to follow instructions.

They were also showed how working in a group makes it easier to achieve a goal.

Above all, the school wanted to find out who really loves cooking.

ALSO READ: Hazyview Dojo wins seven medals at national karate championship

“Some do get to cook at home, but there is still a belief that boys cannot cook. In our schools we treat all learners equally. The boys were also allowed to cook because we believe they too can excel in the kitchen. All the kids did their best and showed their interest in cooking. We believe some of them will do well in the hospitality industry if their skills are supported,” she said.

ALSO READ: Hazyview Twin College teachers claim unfair dismissal by school’s owner

Maluka believes learners should be allowed to discover their talents at a young age.

“Not everyone will be a doctor or lawyer, but could be entrepreneurs. There are many highly successful male chefs. We believe these lessons would also be helpful at home. I must assure parents that everything was done under supervision to ensure no one got hurt. They were also taught kitchen safety tips while using knives and hot stoves.”

The food was enjoyed by the learners and teachers alike.

Maluka said the school strives to make education fun and practical so learners and their educators can strengthen their bonds.

“As a school we don’t focus only on academics. We do our best to develop other areas of growth in our learners, to ensure that each one finds their place in this large web of education. As such, we have introduced lessons such as cooking to assist those who may wish to take this skill to higher levels as they continue growing and studying further.”