Witbank High School principal Richard Osinga represented South Africa on the global stage at the International Confederation of Principals’ Convention, held in New Zealand from September 16 to 18.

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Osinga was one of two South African principals from the eMalahleni who attended the global gathering, which brings together school principals and education leaders from across the world to exchange innovative ideas and address challenges shaping global education.

“It was an honour and a privilege to represent Witbank High School and South Africa on an international platform of this nature,” Osinga said.

“The experience reinforced my appreciation of the important work being done by South African educators and school leaders despite the challenges we face. I viewed this opportunity not only as a personal milestone, but also as a responsibility to represent our school with pride, professionalism and a commitment to educational excellence.”

Global discussions focus on bilingual learning

One of the highlights for Osinga was engaging with school leaders from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, particularly around mother-tongue-based bilingual education.

“My key takeaway was that effective leadership, collaboration, adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential in preparing learners for an ever-changing world,” he said.

Osinga added that he was deeply inspired by global perspectives on teamwork and the integration of teaching and learning.

“These approaches remind us that innovation does not always require significant resources; it requires a willingness to reflect on our practices, learn from others and adapt effective ideas to our own school context,” he explained.

Learners help tackle digital divide

Addressing common challenges shared across international education systems, Osinga noted that many principals face similar constraints, such as resource scarcity and the digital divide in information and communications technology.

To address these challenges, Osinga emphasised the importance of elevating learners’ voices and encouraging young people to propose solutions to school issues.

“We need to enable learners to develop and propose programmes that address identified challenges within schools,” he concluded.

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