Three of Buffalo City Metro’s top Afrikaans schools — Hoërskool Grens, Laerskool Grens and Laerskool Nahoon — will merge into a new education facility in early 2024.
In an announcement posted on Facebook, all three governing body heads described this as promising for the future development of the Afrikaans language, heritage and community of Buffalo City Metro.
Translated from Afrikaans it reads: “After much consideration, Grens Primary School and Nahoon Primary School, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape department of education, have decided to amalgamate from the beginning of 2024.
“This involves the establishment of a new entity with a unique name, school uniform, school song and so on.
“With the long-intended establishment of an Afrikaans campus, Hoërskool Grens will also form part of this new identity.
“This means that the learners from primary school to high school will wear the same uniform and sportswear.
“Be assured that there will be a transition period via the wearing of new school uniforms.
“The governing bodies of the three schools are of the opinion that the amalgamation will ensure the survival of Afrikaans as a language of instruction.
“The Federation of Governing Bodies for South African Schools and the Afrikaans Onderwys Netwerk have the authority to provide assistance to have the processes separated as effectively as possible.
“They have already achieved great success with such amalgamations.
“We firmly believe that we are building a new future for the Afrikaans leaders and community.
“We are excited about the new developments.”
Education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima explained the implications of the decision.
“Nahoon will move to Grens, the new primary behind the high school in the Baysville area,” Mtima said.
“The Nahoon school will hopefully be used by College Street [primary school].
“However, this process is still being negotiated.
“College Street buildings will then become a new high school for next year, but this is also still in progress.”
Mtima said a name for the new school had not yet been decided.
“Committees are meeting currently and looking at proposals.
“The schools want to move at the beginning of January 2024 but the advert has not yet been placed to notify the community.
“So the move will happen between January and March 2024.”
In September 2022, Grens officially opened its new primary school campus on McJannet Drive next to Hoërskool Grens, the Go!&Express previously reported.
This new campus, completed in July 2022, will now be home to the Laerskool Nahoon pupils as well as the Grens pupils.
The governing bodies of the three schools, in response to questions from the Dispatch, said in a joint statement: “The governing bodies and the education department have had prolonged discussions and we are excited that the merger is finally coming to fruition.
“Committees are working on the new identity according to tight deadlines to ensure the process is finalised timeously.”
Referring to the reasons for the merger, they said: “The number of Afrikaans-speaking learners in East London is decreasing.
“It is important to preserve Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in the East London area to ensure that Afrikaans learners enjoy the right to mother-tongue instruction.
“The merger will form a one-stop-shop campus which will also make life easier for parents/guardians.”
All scholars will move to the Baysville campus from 2024, with uniforms phased in over time.
“I think we alumni are all excited with the merger.“I don’t think they will allow the standards to drop."
— Riaan Odendaal
The effect on school fees was a “decision in the hands of the finance committee”.
“The consolidation of our resources into a unified Afrikaans school campus presents a remarkable opportunity for us to harness our collective strengths,” the statement said.
“We will also secure the vibrant future of Afrikaans education within a 300km radius, our campus standing as the sole beacon of this cherished tradition.
“We are wholeheartedly supported by esteemed organisations such as the AON and Fedas.
“Their endorsement empowers us to revitalise and realign our vision, mission and objectives with the ever-evolving educational landscape.
“We extend an earnest invitation to past pupils and the broader East London community to join us in embracing this transformative journey.”
Grens alumnus Riaan Odendaal, 48, from Beacon Bay, remembered his time fondly from pre-primary to junior school and and then high school, matriculating in 1992.
“Grens had a very relaxed atmosphere, teachers were strict on discipline but very nice and well-loved,” he said.
“The school’s slogan is bou, which is build.
“And they do try to get the best out of you, building the best version of yourself you can be.
“I think we alumni are all excited with the merger.
“I don’t think they will allow the standards to drop.
“Grens has always been very proud, very strong on standards, but I think it’s a great thing.”
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