Kuschke greets principal, others

Learners and educators at Kuschke Agricultural High School filled the school hall as they bade farewell to the school principal Manus Celliers, Sepedi Home Language educator Alice Ramoba and one of the school chefs, Jan Baloyi last Thursday.
Several speakers, including Representative Council of Learners (RCL) president Neo Masemola, Pietersburg circuit manager Maggie Ratale and acting principal Lekgalwa Makgoka described the three retirees as the best servants the school has ever had and wished them the best of luck with their future endeavours.
The messages got the crowd whistling and clapping while music performances from ‘The Soil Kuschke’ and Matema Phochana Group left attendees asking for more. The session was full of laughter, joy and happiness. Makgoka said although they were sad to say their goodbyes to the trio, they will always be remembered for their contribution to the school. He further stated that they were delighted that the three can finally have more time with their families and reiterated that they can visit the school as often as they wish.
Celliers tried to hide his emotions when he ascended the stage to address the crowd and started by saying he was a servant of the school for 24 years and he was still happy to be part of the Kuschke family. He emphasised that life is a matter of choices, from the beginning to the end and urged educators and learners to make the right choices at all times.
“Being an educator is the toughest career path in life because we are not allowed to make mistakes. If we make mistakes, children will suffer as they won’t be able to distinguish between right and wrong. Learners should always strive to do their best in everything to become better people in the future,” he said.
Ratale indicated that the best farewell gift learners can give to Celliers is a 100% pass rate at the end of the year. She further said last year the school achieved 79,8% which is below the 80% school target and reiterated that learners should focus and work hard so that they can all pass. Ratale stressed that she was still consulting with her seniors to get more educators to teach at Kuschke and added that it was wrong for the school not to offer English Home Language as a subject.
Ratale said they were planning to introduce the subject in the next academic year: “Kuschke is among special schools in the province because the school specialises in agriculture hence it should be treated like a technical high school. I would like to applaud Celliers for the good work he has done for the school and wish him well.”

Story and photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za