Rustenburg Girls’ High School (RGHS) in South Africa has recently been recognized as one of the top candidates in the “Supporting Healthy Lives” category of T4 Education’s prestigious World’s Best School Prizes. The awards, established in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, Yayasan Hasanah, and the Lemann Foundation, celebrate excellence in education across various categories, including “Community Collaboration,” “Environmental Action,” “Innovation,” and “Overcoming Adversity.”
RGHS, founded in 1894, is recognized for its strong academic reputation and dedication to cultivating a healthy lifestyle amongst its students. Upon learning of their nomination, the school’s principal, Michael Gates, expressed his gratitude while emphasizing that participation in the competition was eagerly welcomed. He believes that promoting physical activity is crucial for students’ academic, social, and mental well-being, and the school has implemented a holistic approach to integrate exercise into the daily routines of its students.
RGHS introduced a sports policy that made sports participation mandatory for Grade 8 and 9 students, ensuring that they strike a balance between their academic commitments and physical activities. This policy offers the students a diverse range of sports to choose from, encouraging involvement in both competitive and social sporting events. To maintain this balance, students receive one structured and one unstructured sports lesson every ten days, providing them with opportunities to explore organized and creative aspects of their chosen activities.
The school is also proud of its high-performing competitive teams, which excel in various sports fields and courts. This emphasis on sports and physical well-being is a testament to the importance placed on developing well-rounded, healthy individuals who can excel academically and holistically.
Meanwhile, Spark Soweto, an independent kindergarten and primary school in Johannesburg, has also been shortlisted in the “Community Collaboration” category. These two prestigious nominations serve as an example of the positive impact South African institutions are having on the global stage.
Vikas Pota, the founder of T4 Education, commends the schools that are shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes, highlighting that all of them share a strong school culture. He notes that these schools’ leaders excel in attracting exceptional educators, inspiring change, and fostering outstanding teaching and learning environments.
The top three finalists for each of the five categories will be announced in September, with the winners to be revealed in October. Each winning school will receive a prize of $50,000 (R912,785), further validating their contributions to the world of education and serving as an inspiration to other institutions globally.
The recognition of Rustenburg Girls’ High School and Spark Soweto in the World’s Best School Prizes is indeed a source of pride for the South African education system. As the anticipation builds leading up to the announcement of the winners, one can only hope that the achievements of these two remarkable schools will continue to inspire and motivate educators and students alike, proving that excellence in education knows no boundaries.
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