Cape Town school an oasis of learning in a violent wasteland

31 January 2016 - 02:05 By NASHIRA DAVIDS
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Principal Henry Alexander with pupils on their new athletics track
Principal Henry Alexander with pupils on their new athletics track
Image: ESA ALEXANDER

Bernadino Heights High School in Cape Town seems just about perfect, until you notice its bullet-resistant fence.

The school is in one of the most notorious areas in the suburb of Kraaifontein, and while its state-of-the-art facilities have become an incubator for top achievers, on the other side of the fence drugs are peddled openly.

All that stands between the school's 1451 pupils and the gangsters who rule the streets that surround it is that fence and a principal nicknamed Bull.

Henry Alexander has defied death threats to protect the school, and recently he confronted a gangster who had put out a hit on his life.

"I went to the house and when the guy opened his eyes in the morning I was standing right on top of him. I just warned in no uncertain terms about leaving my learners and educators alone," said Alexander.

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"You cannot allow these elements into the school. They cannot get a foothold here, and they are not impressed."

Alexander's approach has paid off. The Western Cape education and cultural affairs and sport departments have just provided the school with a R28-million sports centre that includes an athletics track and stadium and an AstroTurf hockey pitch, all of which will be shared with other schools in the area. It is the first of many to be rolled out in the province.

When Alexander became principal in 1993, not one window pane was intact. Demoralised pupils, most of whom had been rejected by other schools, felt they had been dumped, and wreaked havoc.

A former pupil said Alexander would tell teachers to keep the doors closed while he chased away gangsters. "He could have been killed, but it meant so much that he would risk everything for us."

Because the school is in a high-risk area, the authorities put up special fencing that makes it difficult for bullets to penetrate, said Alexander. The community also keeps a watchful eye at all times.

Many pupils are from informal settlements and nearby farms, and some from middle-class suburbs. While a high percentage of parents are unemployed and from poor communities, Bernadino Heights' status as a "quintile five" school puts it in the same category as former Model C schools, meaning the government makes only a minimal contribution to its costs.

"I can proudly say we get in about 90% of our school fees, which are R1800 per year, and you will be shocked to see what we can do with that money," said Alexander.

The fields are green thanks to borehole water, and each classroom has an interactive whiteboard, internet and computers. There are three computer laboratories, a garden, whitewashed tables and chairs under rows of trees and an over-sized chess set.

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The solar-powered administration area looks like a company headquarters, with leather chairs, artwork, glass tables and numerous national and regional accolades glistening under downlights in trophy cases.

This week the school will officially launch its science learning centre, built with the help of the University of the Western Cape and nonprofit organisation Garden Cities Archway Foundation.

Physical science teacher Portia Naidoo hopes this will encourage pupils to work even harder at science. "I am passionate about the learning and I always tell learners: 'Don't just exist! There are so many opportunities - just grab them.'"

Alexander runs the school on a corporate model. He is constantly on the lookout for partnerships with the private sector and is willing to embark on pilot projects to grow the "oasis" his pupils can be proud of. Almost 10 years ago the school volunteered to have solar panels installed to reduce its dependency on the electricity grid. Shortly thereafter it got the first solar-powered computer laboratory in the province.

Head girl Tatum Samuels, last year's top Grade 11 pupil, hopes to follow in the footsteps of her brother, who is studying medicine at Stellenbosch University after matriculating at Bernadino Heights. She said that after the death of her father just over a year ago, the support from teachers had been invaluable.

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Last year, the matric pass rate was 98.4% and all who passed qualified to study at a tertiary institution. One pupil got seven distinctions and was on the provincial top 40 merit list.

Alexander said he was inspired by the pupils. "Every day I learn from these kids. They teach you humility. I have such high regard for the children coming from the farm, for the sacrifices they make in coming to school, in their passion to be successful. I have achieved what I set out to do - build an institution of excellence."

davidsn@sundaytimes.co.za

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