School Type: Co-Educational

The history

Vuleka had its birth in the crisis in black education of the late 1980's.  Township schools for the most part were under-resourced and dysfunctional, and many black parents wanted their children out of the townships during the day, in schools that worked and educated in a language that they saw as being essential for their children's future success. 

The only 'open' schools then were the independent schools, and their doors often remained closed to the child with few English language skills. Hence the name of the newly created Anglican church educational project: "Vuleka" - which means 'to open up, to enlighten'.

The Vuleka programme was designed to put previously disadvantaged children into a more efficient branch of the education system. It was designed to overcome the difficulties children face when the medium of instruction is not the mother tongue. 

The beginnings

Vuleka started in 1989 with 59 children in 4 classes. At the end of that year, 21 children were placed in private schools.  In 1990, 11 teachers, with 7 teaching assistants, taught 170 children in five venues, and at the end of 1990 88 children were placed in private or state schools.

Vuleka has continued to prosper, under God's guidance, and today we cater for almost 300 children in 16 classes, at five venues. Our children are welcomed into state and private schools when they are ready to leave us.

The present

Vuleka is first and foremost a Christian school. We are grateful to God for His guidance over the last 17 years, and we look forward to growing further in His strength. We are also an independent, non-profit school, whose main aim is to provide an excellent education at an affordable fee.

Vuleka is a bridging school, using English as the medium of instruction in the multilingual classroom. Classes are small (16 - 24) and each teacher has a teaching assistant for part of the day, who helps with mother tongue interpretation when necessary, hearing reading, and supervising small groups on different programmes.

School Phase:

• Pre-Primary
• Primary

Lowest Grade: Grade 000
Highest Grade: Grade 7
Boarding: No
Number of Pupils: 568
Founding Year: 1989
Religious Affiliation: Anglican
Lowest Tuition Fees Per Annum (2008): R4035
Highest Tuition Fees Per Annum (2008): R8040
Examinations or Curricula:

• General Education and Training (GETC)

Postal Address: PO Box 52139, Saxonwold
Postal Code: 2132
Telephone: 011 447 2093
Fax: 011 447 7088
Website: http://www.vulekaschool.co.za/
Suburb: Dunkeld
City/Town: Johannesburg
South African Province: Gauteng
Country: South Africa