Filadelfia Secondary School, South Africa

Background:

Filadelfia Secondary School is situated north of Pretoria in Soshanguwe. The institution caters for three primary disabilities i.e. Physical, visual and hearing impaired learners. Filadelfia was the first secondary school for blacks catering for learners from all over South Africa. It was opened in 1985.

The school is dependent on funds raised in the local community and donations. Most of the parents are unemployed and those who are employed mostly earn below the minimum wage levels.

Composition:

There are 420 learners admitted for the 2005 year. There are 200 learners with physical disabilities, 120 learners with visual disabilities and 100 learners with hearing disabilities.

Participation:

Other than the academic programme, the school is participating in many activities such as music and sports. They have already produced athletes who qualified in national and international competitions. The school choir is well known in South Africa. They also participate in Eco-Access programmes where they are trying to relate the subject matter and environment. By so doing we are trying to realise the Outcomes Based Education.

Thinta Isabhakabhaka:

Translated from Zulu: Touch the Sky. 4 Partially sighted & blind students of Filadelfia secondary school ascended the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. This was a great achievement for the school and the blind community of South Africa.

Growing Need:

The schools needs are growing gradually as the school is growing old. The residences are in a bad state of neglect and the risk factor to all residents is very high.