A school of Champions
Williamstrip Primary Farm School is a place of hope and opportunity in the midst of the rural and remote Xhariep district of the Free State. The school, which started out as a one-teacher school in 1970, has grown over the years to become a multigrade school with four teachers and 133 learners. The school mainly serves the children of farm workers in the surrounding areas, some of whom used to walk many kilometres before the school started a bus system.
The entrance to the school is at the end of a long dirt road, and the classrooms are hidden behind a few items of children’s washing hanging outside on a line to dry, two school buses, and a humble playground. The school is made up of four container classrooms arranged around the quad. There are wooden sheds being used as the office and housing for the teachers. The teachers, who share similar backgrounds with the learners, are passionate about their work and can relate to the learners and understand their struggles. They are all dedicated to ensuring that the learners receive the best possible education.
Mme Tselane Francina Posholi, a teacher and principal at the school, is a shining example of this dedication. She is passionate about her work because she also attended a farm school and knows first-hand the transformative power of education. She goes above and beyond to care for her learners and often houses many learners with her in her own home. She takes personal pride in the learners that go through the school and says that many have become inspiring success stories. She speaks fondly about a learner who achieved 5 distinctions in his matric year and proudly shares, “I am so proud of him. It makes me very happy.”
The teachers at Williamstrip Primary Farm School are education champions, despite being a small farm school. Both Mme Tselane and her Grade R teacher won provincial awards for teaching and learning in 2018 and 2019. They are always looking for new, innovative ways to improve their teaching, and they have recently adopted Six Bricks as a teaching and learning tool in the Foundation Phase. Six Bricks encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which are essential skills all learners need for 21st-century learning. The teachers have found that Six Bricks has helped them to engage their learners in a fun and interactive way and has led to a higher quality of teaching.
Mme Tselane is planning to retire soon, and her departure will be deeply felt. Her dedication and passion for the school and its learners have earned her the respect and admiration of the community. Williamstrip Primary Farm School is a place of hope and opportunity, where passionate teachers lead to good quality teaching and inspiring success stories.