The Students

The students either walk to school or come by school bus from the Knysna townships or from one or two in neighbouring smaller towns.

Most students come from poor homes which are shacks built of wood or whatever is available. There is a municipal programme to build small brick houses, but there is a long waiting list and owners need to be employed in order to afford the rent. Parents are attracted by Percy Mdala's reputation for better results and resources. Few students have a television.

School fees are ZAR 150 per year. That's about £12.50. Students are not normally turned away for lack of fee payment.

The School

Sports are soccer, rugby, athletics, tennis and netball. There are almost no facilities, but a sports ground is under construction.

Music is very much part of school life.  The school choir sang for a U3A (University of the 3rd Age) meeting.  Also there is an opera club that performs well in competition with the regional schools.

There are two computer labs in the school and about 100 workstations in total but generally there is a shortage of money to buy software. Connection to the Internet is expensive.

Additional, and very welcome technology, such as an interactive whiteboard is beginning to arrive.