Rustenburg Girls’ High School (RGHS) in Rondebosch has made
the Top 10 shortlist for World’s Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy
Lives.
The World’s Best School Prizes, founded last year by T4
Education – in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, Yayasan Hasanah,
and the Lemann Foundation – are among the world’s most prestigious education
prizes. Besides “Supporting Healthy Lives”, categories include “Community
Collaboration”, “Environmental Action”, “Innovation”, and “Overcoming
Adversity”.
Early this morning, RGHS learners whooped with delight when
they heard that they were in the running for the shared $250 000 (R4 564
537,50) cash prize. The government school is one of two South African secondary
learning institutions that were named just after 08:00 today (Thursday 15 June)
in the five Top 10 shortlists. The other, Spark Soweto (an independent,
partially government-funded kindergarten and primary school in Johannesburg),
appears on the Top 10 shortlist for the World’s Best School Prize for Community
Collaboration.
RGHS Principal Michael Gates says it is an honour to be
named one of the Top 10 Schools in the world Supporting Healthy Lifestyles.
“This competition is open to all applicants, and we eagerly
participated.”
Founded in 1894, RGHS has a strong reputation for academic
excellence with their matric graduates often appearing on the Western Cape
Department of Education’s Top Learners lists. With the aim of balancing their
academically driven focus, the school implemented a Sports Policy which made
sports compulsory for Grade 8 and 9 learners.
The policy allows learners to choose from a wide range of
sports, including both competitive and social options. The athletic instruction
provides one structured and one unstructured sports lesson every 10 days,
meaning students have both organised and creative opportunities within the
programme.
Gates says being active and engaging in physical activity is
crucial for academic, social and mental success.
“We strive for our learners to embrace a holistic approach
and incorporate exercise into their daily routines.”
He says the school takes immense pride in their
high-achieving competitive teams who shine on the sports fields and courts at a
competitive level.
“Today, we celebrate our success, but tomorrow, we will
continue inspiring generations to promote healthy lifestyles,” he says.
Congratulating RGHS and Spark Soweto, Vikas Pota, Founder of
T4 Education, says schools across the globe will learn from the story of these
trailblazing South African institutions and the culture they have cultivated.
T4 Eudcation is a global organisation committed to providing engaging tools,
initiatives, and events for teachers to improve education.
“The schools shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes,
no matter where they can be found or what they teach, all have one thing in
common. They all have a strong school culture. Their leaders know how to
attract and motivate exceptional educators, inspire change, and build excellent
teaching and learning environments,” says Pota.
The Top 3 finalists for each of the five World’s Best School
Prizes will be announced in September followed by the winners in October.
The winning school in each of the five categories will
receive an award of US$50 000 (R912 785).
