King Edward High School
King Edward High School (locally called KEHS) is a semi-private, English-medium high school situated in the Buxton Park suburb of Matatiele, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was founded in the 1902.[1]
| King Edward High School | |
|---|---|
Badge of King Edward High School | |
| Address | |
10 School Street Matatiele , Eastern Cape , 4730 South Africa | |
| Coordinates | 30°20′52″S 28°48′59″E / 30.3477°S 28.8165°ECoordinates: 30°20′52″S 28°48′59″E / 30.3477°S 28.8165°E |
| Information | |
| Motto | Deus dat incrementum (God gives growth) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Christianity |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Established | 1902 |
| Founder | Miss Leary |
| Staff | 50 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age range | 5–18 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 16:1 |
| Houses | Melville Graham JD le Roux |
| Song | The School Song |
| Accreditation | Eastern Cape Department of Education |
| Website | kingedwardhs |
History
The school was established in the borough of Matatiele in 1890 by French Protestant Missionaries and the school's only teacher was a teacher named Miss Leary. It was a relatively poor school upon its foundation for impoverished white children. It was little more than a thatched hut when it was created in the 19th century.
Following the South African War, the school received its first headmaster when an Anglo-South African named Mr. Melville was appointed to be the school's first principal. The school, under Mr. Melville, was named "King Edward Coronation School" to honor King Edward VII. The construction of the present school's buildings began in earnest in 1910 and the original name of "King Edward Coronation School" was changed first to "King Edward Public School" and later "King Edward High School". In 1934 the school attained high school status. The school and the small town of Matatiele were hit very hard by the Great Depression.[2]
The school received much funding from the Apartheid government which helped lift the school from poverty. Subsequently, as with all Model C schools in South Africa, the school was reserved for white children only and it did not start admitting black students until 1994 – when South Africa was desegregated. It was the only school for white students in Matatiele during the Apartheid years.
In 2019, a parent accused the school of racism, with some classes composed exclusively of black children.[3] The school said this was due to the need to teach English to non-English speakers to prepare them for later years when all instruction is in English.[4] The alleged segregation was investigated by the Education Department.[5][6] After being suspended due to COVID-19, extramural activities and sports resumed in 2022.[1]
Admission criteria
Most of its students enter the school through between pre-grade one and grade four. All admissions are handled by the school directly and not the government. Students come mainly from the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. The school regularly obtains a 100% pass rate. The school educates nearly 800 learners, a large portion of whom are boarders.[7][8]
Academics
The school offers the following subjects in the high school:
Grade 8–9
- Home language: English or Afrikaans
- First Additional language/second language: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho
- Creative Arts
- Economic management science
- Social Science (History and Geography)
- Life Orientation
- Mathematics
- Technology
- Natural sciences
- Technology
Grade 10–12
- Home language: English or Afrikaans
- First Additional language/second language: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho
- Accounting
- Business studies
- Computer Application Technology (CAT)
- Engineering Graphic Design
- Geography
- History
- Life Orientation
- Physical education
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Literacy
Sports
Summer sports
- Swimming
- Soccer
- Cricket
- Tennis
Winter sports
Cultural
- Public speaking
- Debating
- Drama
- Music
References
- ^ a b "Matatiele school marks 120 years with return to activities". DispatchLIVE.
- ^ "About – King Edward High School – Matatiele". kingedwardhs.co.za. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "Matatiele school's 'huge problem' with segregation". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "King Edward High School (Matetiele) rejects Sunday Times` "segregation" smear – NEWS & ANALYSIS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za.
- ^ https://allafrica.com/stories/201901140694.ht
- ^ https://www.news24.com/news24/eastern-cape-school-responds-to-allegations-of-racial-segregation-20190116
- ^ "News – King Edward High School – Matatiele". kingedwardhs.co.za. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "King Edward High School Reviews, Matric Results & Contact Details". SchoolsDigest. Retrieved 12 November 2022.