After dedicating 30 years of her life to Livingstone High School, Ralia Ganie says she is ready to take the school to new heights as its newly appointed principal.
Ms Ganie has been the school’s acting principal since last year, and she was officially appointed to the position on Tuesday November 1.
She started her teaching career at Strand High School and later did a short stint at Tafelsig High School, teaching accounting, typing and economics, before joining Livingstone High in 1993 under principal Jerome Bonzaaier.
Several principals over the years have helped to mentor her, she says.
She was appointed acting principal and head of academics in May last year, following the departure of former principal Riyadh Najaar.
Ms Ganie says she is ready to take the school into the future while maintaining the ethos created by its founders.
“We opened our doors to people of colour in 1926, giving them an opportunity to attend tertiary institutions. People such as Victor Wessels and Dr Neville Alexander were instrumental in setting the school’s trajectory, and I want to fulfil that, not just in terms of academics but how we mould our pupils for the future.”
She says the 96-year-old school is in dire need of a facelift, and while the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is due to start repairs this month, the school has started fund-raising – including holding a food fair last month – to cover extra renovations that need doing.
Ms Ganie says the school has an excellent working relationship with the school governing body and alumni society and she hopes to build on relationships with parents and the Western Cape Education Department.
She thanked her staff for their commitment, saying they had all remained in their posts during the pandemic while having their salaries cut in half.
“This just goes to show that it is not about the money for them. Many of the teachers take it upon themselves to take pupils to the various school club activities without remuneration.”
