STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBSUSISO DLAMINI
AT THE KA-BOYCE HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH AND PRIZE GIVING DAY
AT KA-BOYCE HIGH SCHOOL, MBABANE
MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2015
Honourable Ministers
Honourable Members of both Houses of Parliament
Mbabane East Member of Parliament
Principal and Staff of Ka-Boyce High School
Students of the School
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am delighted to have the opportunity to join you all at this Speech and Prize giving Day. Seeing the look of anticipation in many pairs of eyes, I hasten to assure you that the ‘Speech’ part will be over fairly soon and then we will be able to proceed with the prizes!
I do enjoy attending functions like this. I see the young faces of the students, complete with their dreams for the future. Some are anticipating the award of a prize, perhaps in some cases even more than one prize. But, prize or not, you are all equally important and equally valuable, with a crucially important role in the future of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Never forget that.
Some of you will go on to academic glory – there is already plenty of evidence of that. Some will go into professional life, some will move into self-employment. Each of you, whatever your academic achievements, has an important function ahead of you – as a decent, law-abiding and hard-working citizen of this country. Make that one of your key mantras and you will have a fulfilling life. It is not a hugely dynamic or original mantra and it is not meant to be all-inclusive but it sets the scene. You all have a part to play. Look forward to it and make your dreams come true.
With “Education as a Priority” being the theme of today’s event let us remind ourselves that the theme captures a key strategy, not only for Government, but it should also carry the same degree of importance in the student. To all the students here today, and indeed across the Kingdom, I say - make a hunger for education, and all that it provides, one of your dominant objectives in life. Because, from broader and deeper knowledge we find greater wisdom and improved judgment. Strive to be remembered more for what you are, rather than for who you are.
In common with many schools in the Kingdom of Swaziland, Ka-Boyce High School has a most interesting history. All the students should know it, and if any do not, then research it before you leave. It is part of your academic heritage. Ka-Boyce was started by a Reverend Ernest Boyce who, as a missionary, arrived in Swaziland from Scotland many years ago. For those of you not entirely clear where Scotland is – though the World Rugby Cup will have reminded you – then if you find yourself in Newcastle on Tyne in the very north of England, just keep going north!
Reverend Boyce came to Swaziland with the South African General Mission (SAGM). He established a boys’ school at Bethany but because of the unfavourable climatic conditions arising from being close to the Lusushwane River, the school was moved to Hebron in Motshane. Reverend Boyce was a highly practical man and taught many skills that included building, electrical and metalworking. By interesting coincidence he then proceeded to work with a Mr Daniel Dlamini - who was a cousin to my own father! The family connection does not end there because my own father had studied at KaBoyce before joining his brother, Samuel, who was a preacher at eNdzingeni, with my father then enrolling at the boys’ school in Piggs Peak.
Reverend Boyce and Daniel Dlamini then effectively built up a trade school which, in due course, was handed over to Government and in due course became Swaziland College of Technology. Therein lies an interesting genesis with which everyone present today may be familiar, but it may not be known across the Nation.
From that point of transition, Reverend Boyce opened a primary school which gradually grew in size and scope to Standard Seven. The need to build higher grade classes arose when, in 1987, very soon after His Majesty King Mswati III became our Monarch, His Majesty announced that no child should be denied an education. Reverend C.P.M Gumedze, an elder in the church of the SAGM, and also ……wait for it …….the son-in-law of that same Daniel Dlamini, (pause) rose to the challenge of opening the new Ka-Boyce High School.
Inspired by the determination of His Majesty to broaden access to education, Ka-Boyce High School has gone from strength to strength, achieving spectacular academic success. The standards that it achieved through its own endeavours, caused it to become very much in demand and more selective in its intake. The academic quality of the intake would have a significant impact on later performance but it should not be forgotten that its reputation was built up, in the first instance, from a zero base. The Principal, Mr S.M. Mthunzi, and his staff are to be congratulated on achieving that, and sustaining the outstanding academic performance of the students.
The continuing success is the result of making the acquisition of knowledge interesting to the student and of highly productive teamwork in creating a powerful work ethic. KaBoyce High School has even established a website on the Internet to provide information to the general public about the School. That is also commendable and shows creativity.
As for the students themselves, the achievements are impressive. I am informed that there are currently 164 former Ka-Boyce students at universities in Swaziland, and a further 31 at universities in South Africa and elsewhere. Within the School the results have been consistently outstanding for many years. Ka-Boyce High School should be seen as a role model for others to emulate the formula that established the School as a high achiever in the first instance.
I have also observed some exceptional achievements in extra-curricular activities but you must be particularly proud that your student, Teyise Dlamini, has been selected to be the voice of the children during the United Nations General Assembly 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an event being held in New York.
In among all the successes, you as a School have a significant challenge in the shortage of housing for your teachers. This is a problem shared with many public servants throughout the country, and a function of limited Government resources. The Institutional Housing Project is underway, nevertheless, and we do hope that, in due course, your challenges can be addressed within that Project.
It remains for me to thank you for inviting me to this ceremony today and, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to give my warmest congratulations to the Principal, staff and students of Ka-Boyce High School, with a special word of praise for all those receiving prizes today. And I hereby declare the new School Website duly launched.
Thank you.