About us

SHIPHAMELE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Background Of The School

The school started January 1983 with one teacher: Ms Siwela IB, formerly known as Mrs Moyana, teaching Sub A and B. There was no classroom. Teaching and learning took place under the tree without furniture. The chair for the teacher was donated by the community leader without a table. Later after June same year, the former Gazankulu government started building 8 classrooms. First enrolment was 163 learners. After June, 2 more teachers employed, Mrs Khosa TJ and the late Ms Ngobeni ML.  

Our Schools Name
Shiphamele Primary School   

Meaning of the name 
Shi – (in Xitsonga, its supposed to be “xi” which is the prefix for “Xihlangi”, the child) meaning the child.   Phamele – (from the word. “phamela”) meaning to dish out.    

Which means at Shiphamele primary we are dishing out education (the precious stone) to the child.  

Our Motto

“Education is the most precious stone”  

Mission Statement
... providing a welcoming, happy, safe, and supportive learning environment in which everyone is equal, and all achievements are celebrated.    

Vision Statement

To develop well-rounded, confident, and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their full potential.

Our Aim

We aim to develop well-rounded and thoughtful learners prepared to cope with an ever-changing world.

Our Objectives

1.    To provide learners at the school with a rounded, complete education, incorporating all aspects of personal development (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to academic, physical, ethical, moral, spiritual, sporting, cultural and personal development).   

2.    To provide such education equally to boys and girls in grades R to 7 and aged 5.5 to 14, given the legal status of the school as a public primary school.   

3.    To provide such education through the medium of English and Xitsonga, given the legal status of the school as a dual medium school, the language of leaming and teaching (LOLT) is Xitsonga and English.   

4.    To provide support, protection, guidance, and food to learners.   

5.    To uphold, maintain and improve the school's established reputation for excellence, to provide the infrastructure therefor, and, in so doing:   

   5.1         To strive to maintain the highest principles of freedom, democracy and fair play, and to avoid any form of unfair discrimination  through the school's admission practices or in the provision of educational services.     

   5.2         In carrying out its duties, to adhere not only to the provision of Sections 5,6 and 7 of the Schools Act, but to the wording and spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and, accordingly, to avoid any form of unfair discrimination in its admission policy, language policy, religious observance policy, or any other of its policies.   

6.    To hold, maintain, supplement, and utilise the school fund and any assets of the school in accordance with the provisions of the Act and particularly Section 37 of the Act; to ensure that the school functions within the strictures of its funding limitations, and is able to meet its financial commitments and undertakings at all times, and to apply principles of sound financial planning and management to its mandate.   

7.    To put in place and maintain such human resource approaches and practices, as well as related policies and infrastructure, as are necessary to provide opportunities to the staff of the school to grow professionally and personally, to obtain work fulfilment, and to deliver education of the highest quality.   

8.    To advance and promote academic, service, sporting, and cultural activities in general, but specifically as educational opportunities to benefit the leamers of the school and the community it serves, as well as the school as an entity.   

9.    To accept financial and other assistance from any foundation, trust, person, or entity prepared to assist the Governing Body to achieve its objectives.