Pretoria Chinese School

Video credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / China Plus South Africa' (Saturday, 10th November 2018)

In 1933, a small group of men from the Young Chinese Cultural League (YCCL) took the brave decision to start a school in Pretoria to cater for the needs of the Chinese community, which at that time only numbered 3,000 in South Africa.

Due to racism and discriminatory government restrictions imposed on them, the local Chinese community endured many hardships, but they believed that improving their education could help overcome many of their obstacles.

In an attempt to preserve their culture and provide quality education for their children and the greater Chinese community, several of the founding members travelled 12,000km covering the length and breadth of the country on dirt roads and over mountain passes to raise funds.

On 30th September 1934, the Pretoria Chinese School officially opened its doors with 34 pupils and 3 teachers at 191 Boom Street in downtown Pretoria. The land and building were purchased in the name of the Chinese Consulate, as the Chinese were not allowed to hold title to property at the time. Three years later provision was made for additional classrooms and boarding facilities, a school hall which also served as a community centre. By July 1943, the school boasted an enrolment of 53 pupils and reached a peak of 150 pupils in 1958.

The end of the Apartheid era also heralded new possibilities and challenges for the Chinese Community. As government schools opened up to the Chinese Community there was a drop in numbers at the Chinese School.

In 1991, the School Board decided to expand the small primary school to include high school so that the language and culture could be extended to all who wished to embrace it. This resulted in an influx of children from Poland, Russia, Korea, Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China.

The Boom Street property was sold due to limited space for development and the proceeds were used to acquire a more suitable 3,48 hectare property in the leafy suburb of Wingate Park, east of Pretoria. In 1993, the Chinese Community came to the fore once again and raised R 2.7 million to build a 22 classroom block, a computer centre and science laboratory.

Although the school was initially meant to serve the needs of the local South African Chinese community, it has now included the greater learner community of all nationalities who have embraced the school's heritage.

School principal John Gelling describes the school as "a pretty normal school with a Chinese feel to it. More and more non-Chinese are interested in Chinese culture and language. Our target class size is 22, which is large enough to allow for good social interaction and is a manageable size."

Mandarin is not just a mandatory subject for all children at Pretoria Chinese School and is taught for between five and eight hours a week, but a vehicle through which Chinese culture and values find expression. Mandarin is also taught on Saturday mornings and early evenings during the week to adults.

"The aim is to promote Chinese culture in a fun, relaxed atmosphere," said deputy principal Angela Liu. In primary school phases, learners can enjoy activities such as kite-making, paper dragon-making, bamboo dragon fly-making, Chinese opera masks, Chinese chess, tops and diabolo (Chinese yo-yo). High school learners get exposed to Chinese painting, calligraphy and making delicious dishes. Coached by Chinese teachers, learners are invited to perform folk dancing, martial arts, drumming and tea tasting internally and externally.

Pretoria Chinese School is a multi-denominational, multi-cultural, English medium independent institution of learning with classes from Grade 00 to Grade 12.

Article credit: Courtesy of 'Pretoria Rekord' (Sunday, 15th March 2015) newspaper

Business and administration director Jerrold Law and 2015 head prefects brought toiletries and care packages for the elderly residents of Hong Ning Chinese Aged Home in Belgravia, Johannesburg. They were welcomed by general manager Timothy Sam and met the oldest resident, 106-year-old Ting Kwai Wu.

Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / CGTN Africa' (Sunday, 12th April 2015)

Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / Al Jazeera Englsh' (Wednesday, 20th January 2016)

Listen to Rian van Heerden test the Mandarin skills of two Grade 12 leaners, André Petersen and Ntsatsi Mabokano, on Jacaranda FM (Thursday, 10th January 2019) here.

Promotional material credit: Courtesy of 'CliffCentral' (Tuesday, 1st October 2019)

Listen to principal John Gelling, deputy principal Angela Liu and Grade 11 learner Refilwe Mashiane explain how South African school children are embracing Mandarin with Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo here.