Marcus Garvey residents in Philippi united to salute the Grade 7 learners of Zanemfundo Primary School while they strolled on the streets during a graduation ceremony on Friday 9 December.
The day marked the learners’ last day of their primary school education. In January, they will start their high school life and some will never see their peers, with whom they spent seven years.
On Friday, teachers and learners donned graduation gowns as they walked the streets waving to the community to signal their departure from the school.
Simphiwe Ulana, the school principal, described the ceremony as a first of its kind. He said they aimed to engage with the community.
“We were trying to interact with the community. We wanted the community to take ownership of the school. We want them to be involved or participate in whatever is happening at the school. And besides having a graduation ceremony, we were campaigning against crime in the area,” he said, adding that Marcus Garvey was one of the crime-ridden areas.
Ulana said most people in the community lost hope in the authorities.
“We are trying to revive hope and lift their spirits. We wanted to show them that even in the most impoverished community they can get a diamond. The current learners are the leaders of tomorrow. Once they succeed in their studies, we want them to come and plough back in their communities,” he explained.
With 25 years of experience in the education sector, 13 of them as a principal, Ulana said his main objective is to change the perception people have about the school and put it on the map.
Parent Nokhwezi Fuyani described the event as encouraging to other learners. “It was the first time we saw such an event at the school. We are hoping that there are many more of them to come. I believe other parents will be motivated and bring their children to the school,” she said.
Fuyani stated that her wish was to see the school among the best schools in the community.