The Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality Clr Connie Nkalitshana has taken it upon herself to take care of Ilanga Secondary School.

The mayor made several visits to the school after the opening of the schools and found a lot of problems at the school.

The mayor indicated that she was concerned about the behaviour of some of the learners ‒ their conduct, attitude, wearing of school uniform and late coming.

“I came here over the past days and found a lot of bad things at the school. I want to tell you that we are on a journey together to improve the school. I want you to be writers of your own books; write your chapters about your life. I have observed a lot of improvements in your behaviour, wearing of uniform, improved hairstyles, attitude and coming early to school. If you travel on the bad route, you find yourself in the black hole. We need to change for the better and you need to be disciplined,” said the mayor.

The mayor after presenting certificates for neatness, improved behaviour, changed haircut, proper wearing of school uniform and coming early to school, promised that she is going to adopt the school during her term of office.

She told the learners that discipline, time management, attitude and studying hard are very important.

The mayor also said she will make quarterly visits to the school and will make sure that the learners love their school.

She further thanked the principal, teachers, and parents for the role they play in the school.

Three learners have been adopted by the mayor and she will take care of their needs and will treat them as her ‘special children’.

The principal, Mr Keithian Naidoo said the school had a lot of challenges before the intervention of the executive mayor and he has seen a lot of improvement.

He pointed out that discipline, conduct, late coming and others have been problematic at the school.

He further stated that he is hopeful that things will get better with time after the mayor motivated the learners.

He said part of the problem has been the issue of power and they have been using a generator since June last year and the mayor has also promised to help in that regard.

Together with his staff and members of the School Governing Body (SGB) they have taken some measures to bring improvement to the school.

Mr Naidoo thanked his teachers and Duvha Primary School for helping them to host the last year’s Grade 12 learners during the camp preparing for exams.

He also thanked Glenco, Zithembile Engineering, and other companies in supporting financially and in kind during the camp.

The school last year obtained a 71,8% pass rate while they had a 74,3% pass rate for 2021, which is a decline.

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