Bafokeng Officially Open Fantabulous Private School

 

Auditorium of Lebone II College at night

 

Last week Lebone II,  a college of the Royal Bafokeng, was officially opened in Phokeng, North West Province. I've previously mentioned on the blog that I'm from Phokeng and am very proud of how the village has/is developing?

So, I managed to get info about the school, and some pics, and since some of you have expressed interest of where I come from, I thought it would be okay to publish the stuff here. As you can see from this pic, this is a really nice school. And it's definitely a HUGE improvement over the one where I started my education, which was under a tree :-).

Anyhoo, their press release says:

The opening marks an important step in upgrading the education system throughout the entire Bafokeng region, which serves about 20,000 pupils in 45 schools.

 

Fireworks at the launch

 Founded by the late Kgosi Lebone II in 1997, the College admits talented children and develops them into leaders and agents of change. The College aims to provide young people of diverse backgrounds with the inspiration, education and opportunities to make a positive impact on the Royal Bafokeng Nation, South Africa, and the world.

The Bafokeng vision for education reform includes interventions in literacy and numeracy, mother-tongue instruction in the early grades, effective school management, and strong parental involvement.

Lebone II serves as the flagship institution in all these areas, and provides extensive opportunities to the pupils, teachers, and school leaders in the surrounding schools.

George Harris, Headmaster at Lebone II says “Lebone II aims to be a light to this particular community by provoking collective thought around excellence and by resourcing our neighbouring schools through teacher development and training, principal development, and exposure to excellence and best practice models of education in the 21 century.”

Whilst the majority of the College’s children come from the twenty-nine villages of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, thirty per cent come from outside the area, ensuring diversity in the student body. More than 50% of the pupils receive some form of bursary. Lebone II offers boarding for students in grades seven through twelve, as well as a 13th-year programme that offers an extra year of academic preparation, life skills, and community service prior to university.

The present leader of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi says: “My brother Kgosi Lebone II, and I shared a passion for creating a school that would combine world class education with the unique context and culture of the Bafokeng. Lebone II is the product of this vision, and will serve as an educational laboratory that weaves education and development ever more strongly through the fabric of our society, for the benefit of present and future generations of Bafokeng and all South Africans.”

More congratulations

I also want to congratulate Tiah and Judy for their short stories published in the latest issue of  Itch magazine. Itch is an online publication, so please hop there and read Tiah's A letter from a spinster (age 50) to a gentleman (age 28) and Judy's Heroes Day.  BTW, have you guys noticed that Judy has been a very busy bee lately? Keep sending your material out to publishers, Judy.