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The 10^th of October 2017 is the day the community of Clarkebury Village will never forget as dignitaries from all over the Eastern Cape braved the cold and rainy weather to witness the official launch of Clarkebury Senior Secondary School as an Agricultural School.

“As from January 2017, the School has been converted into an Agricultural school and this is one of the historical schools, we are proud to say that the late Dr. Nelson Mandela was one of the students at the school,” said the proud Principal of Clarkebury High School, Ayanda Matshayana.  

“The community, Traditional and Church Leaders in our area insisted that the school of this caliber be launched formally,” said the Principal. “This is an example of Service Delivery, bringing change to our people, for this is not only for us as a school but also for the community at large. We are grateful and promise to grow further in agriculture, we will take care of the tools and the bakkie given to us by the Department.  It will help us a lot. We are forever grateful.”

Amongst the dignitaries who graced the event was Ndileka Mandela, who is one of the former learners at the school and who is also the granddaughter of the late Dr. Nelson Mandela extended her support. “As a former learner of the school I felt it was very important that I attend this event and show my support.  

I was involved in the early stages of this project andvery excited to see it though. “Education is the key to success and without education you are nothing,” said Ndileka who was addressing the learners.   “Without good results, we will not go anywhere,” she added.

“We, at the Thembekile Mandela Foundation in Gauteng have taken unemployed youths and train them in Agricultural Practices, it’s a one-year course and when they finish they can either go to the industry or start their own co-operations. The reason we chose Agriculture is even from back in the days agriculture was the way of life, this was before they relocated to the big cities and working at mines and now most mines are closing business, some their life span is finished and shutting down jobs and the only way for our people to be able to maintain themselves is through Agriculture,” explained Mandela.

Dr. AS Nuku, Chief Director: from the Office of the Superintendent General (SG) who represented the MEC of the Education, said he felt it necessary to thank the District Director of Chris Hani East for organizing an event of this caliber and quoted the author John West- Burnham, “No Institution improves without being led.” “Thank you for your leadership”. He also extended a word of appreciation to the Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Ntsikelelo Vazi and his team for a job well done.”

He also said, “The launch of the school as an Agricultural School is of critical importance to both the department and the community in terms of promoting and encouraging the Radical Economic Transformation of the country.  

He urged the members of the Community to take care of the school and its resourcesto safeguard the future of their children.”  He also quoted one of Madiba’s famous quotes “Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world.” Education is indeed important, when we provide it to our children, they will go very far in life”