Behind the scenes at Seatides Combined

Values and a good education play the biggest role in the journey to success. This is the belief of Seatides Combined School principal Kola Govender.

Govender took over the principal’s ‘hot seat’ in 2015 and has since maintained the school’s excellent reputation and the top matric performance.

The calm and collected man, who taught mathematics and science for more than 30 years in Belverton Secondary school in Tongaat, said being a principal is an exciting job.

“I always taught in a high school and with Seatides being combined with primary, it was a bit challenging to start with. On one day you are planning an awards function for the foundation phase and the next day you have to do a matric farewell. I must thank the staff for accepting me.

“The staff are hard working and committed and that is the key to the success of the school.”

Seatides Comined school has grown from a small school in the quiet suburb to its current enrollment of 894 pupils. The school achieved a matric pass rate of 98.8 for the 2016 matric results with 70 per cent of their pupils achieving a bachelor degree pass.

“I believe that foundation phase education is just as important as high school. Three of our top five pupils have been with Seatides Combined since grade R. That attests to the fact that every teacher from foundation phase upward, plays a big part in ensuring quality education.”

Govender admitted that teaching and pupils have drastically changed from when he first started, 30 years ago.

“There are many challenges that we face. There’s technology, bullying and the main problem – the lack of confidence that parents have in teachers. Good education is like a table with three legs – the pupil, the teachers and the parents. When one leg falls, the table cannot stand.

“Parents often come to school and complain about things like the manner in which the teacher spoke to their child. This undermines the commitment of teachers. I do not know of any teacher who would do and say things to prevent a child from achieving their full potential.

“We do not accept anything that goes against our code of conduct, that means there are no cellphones allowed and no bullying. We have a good relationship with Tongaat SAPS and as a preventive measure we call them in to talk to our pupils about the implications of their actions.”

Having spent ten years as a local councillor in Tongaat just after the apartheid era, Govender has a passion for helping people and being actively involved the Tongaat community.

“Values make up who we are in life. You need to have honesty and integrity. You should be kind, generous and not selfish in any way. If all the money and all the education you have as an individual cannot make a positive difference in the world around you, you are nothing.

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