THALANA HIGH SCHOOL - THE HEARTBEAT OF DUNDEE'S EDUCATION

Thalana High School is a no-fee school. This may sound amazing, but the bitter truth is: Most of the learners’ families can’t afford the minimum required school fees. Most of Thalana learners come from families that barely get by. Urbanisation has seen informal settlements mushrooming all around Dundee. Stratford Farm, Dlamini, Mzomusha,Lindelani, Craigside and RDP houses like ‘France’, Extension 18,19 and New Extension. All these developments have seen an exponential increase in population as well as unemployment. With more than 40% unemployment, most of the scholars have to rely on the school’s feeding scheme for a hot meal and the government’s policy of a ‘No-Fee School” to afford education.

Stratford Farm - Rural

Informal Settlements

Learners come from various backgrounds, of which the majority have been scared by the ills of society, orphaned by AIDS and left to herd homes. Some are left with their grandparents and some live with their extended families. Many forms of abuse are suffered by some of the learners and because of dependency on the abusers, most cases go unreported. The major challenge rests with the teachers of those learners who, before even getting to the first chapter of the syllabus, have to address these issues. It takes not only good analysis to diagnose these ills, but a heart that is willing to stand in a gap for a parent who might be deceased or even alive, but with no role at all in that learner’s life. The school becomes more than just a place of learning, but an essential service for these learners.

 Matric Farewell is one of the highlights of the year, not only for the matriculants, but fellow learners, parents   and community members as well. Parents put their best dresses to come and see their children off to their prom. Though the parents/guardians may not have been able to provide most of their children’s school needs, they spend their last penny to see their children looking beautiful and handsome. For those learners who have no one to provide, it is normally a certain teacher or a group of teachers who take out of their own pockets to make sure that child enjoys that memorable day to every child behind the desk.

Matric Farewell

 The whole neighbourhood would come out to see that learner off when they are picked up by their lift to the farewell. These are the people who know this learner, their struggles and losses, and they come out in numbers to wish them well as they are whisked away to the meeting point, which is usually the school. The exit from home into the lift is an event on its own. Neighbours sing, cheer and take pictures as matriculants leave their homes for the farewell party.

Students Arriving At School

The arrival at the school is yet another moment of excitement. Fellow learners fill the street to see their celebrities arriving in style. Drivers that bring in the guests are expected to appease the crowd by performing a stunt upon arrival at the school. The stunts normally involve: revving the car, opening the roof if it’s a coupe’ or even do a little wheel spin, as long as it is safe to do so. At this point the parents are awaiting their children at the school, to see them off. They, themselves are dressed up. They meet at around 5 pm for dinner and a moment with the principal and the teachers.

Parents Dressed Up For Their Children

Dr Sikhakhane And Parents

This is the day when they are not called in to discuss problems or results, but to feast and be merry. The principal, Dr. B P Sikhakhane is seen mingling with the parents who seem to be enjoying his company. They understand the tasks he faces day in and day out, and how everybody has pulled together to see this day through. Though this is not the graduation ceremony, but it also reminds everybody of the ultimate task that lies ahead in a few weeks:
Matric Exams. It reminds everyone that these learners are about to spend the following year out of school, whether they make it or don’t.

In school uniform, one can tell the backgrounds of the learners by looking at the condition of the uniform. Tonight they are all the same: Beautiful, handsome, overjoyed and no one is lesser. Looking at them posing for the pictures brings the tears in your eyes. Not tears of pity, but because of your own background about their homes and situations, for a split second you are able to look beyond that and see a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, and educator or a president when you look at them all dressed up. I can’t imagine how their parents/guardians may be feeling. In that split second, the flashes of all the hardships I mentioned earlier fill your mind, and give the meaning to the saying that:”It takes a village to raise a child”.

Thalana And Livangeli Former Student, Sipho Bhengu
Sipho Is Currently A Medical Student In Cuba. Seen
With Him Are His Former Principals - Dr Sikhakhane And
Mr B Shangase

Thalana is the only school in Dundee that has produced more prominent politicians, leaders, pastors, musicians, doctors, lawyers, accountants etc more than any other. Thalana sends more medical students to Cuba than any other school in the area. Thalana has been the very hub of political transformation in our town and an important architectural instrument of our democratic society. It was students of Thalana who mobilised other youths into marching against injustices in our society prior to democratic elections in 1994. Thalana is headed by Dr. B P Sikhakhane, who graduated at Harvard University in Boston, US.


Dr Sikhakhane was raised in a humble background himself, and that motivated him to make a difference in his family. This is the very inspirations he imparts whenever he encourages his learners to rise above their backgrounds and refuse to remain poor when they have the power and opportunities to change the rules of the game. This is the reason why Thalana is this town’s goose that lays golden eggs. It’s not because of fancy resources, play grounds, labs, fat school fees or prestige. It is because of children who grow up under very unfavourable conditions and want to change that through the only tool that is freely available to them: EDUCATION.

Four Students Wake Up In This Home
 Everyday To Go To School

The lack of understanding is the mother of all ignorance. It is ignorance at its best to capitalise on the misfortunes of these learners, especially when one knows nothing about the hardships they go through just to get by. It is wisdom of great measure to acknowledge, encourage, and appreciate that strength in weakness, hope in despair and richness in rags. If we lack that ability, the best we could at least do is SHUT UP!!