Principals honoured as top achievers from Gauteng schools
- Wits University
Many of Wits University’s top learners come from important feeder schools, which produce quality students that easily adjust to the academic demands at Wits.
In celebration of the class of 2023, the Wits’ Schools Liaison Office (SLO) hosted over 49 feeder school principals and teachers from Gauteng at the annual Principals’ Function. The SLO visit a vast number of schools each year and advise learners about admission requirements, career opportunities, degree courses offered at Wits, fees and funding, student life on campus and the University's core function.
Educators from Gauteng’s feeder schools were congratulated on the excellent work they do in nurturing learners through their 12 years of schooling, preparing learners for post-secondary education and supporting learners in securing a spot at a leading global institution like Wits.
“We at Wits pride ourselves as a place of intellectual debate, free expression, diversity of views and ideology. In partnership with your schools, we look forward to the next 100 years of mutual collaboration and contributing to leading this country and continent. Our goal at Wits is to weave in academic excellence in naturing the young minds, contributing to dialogue and discourse and becoming a beacon of what this country strives to be,” said Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, who welcomed representatives at the event.
Wits received a record number of first-year applications for the 2023 academic year. Majority of those applications were from feeder schools. The relationship with schools is an important one in ensuring the success of learners.
Three schools were singled out and received certificates for being the top feeder schools in their respective sectors. Greenside High School, Al Aqsa School and St Matthews Private Secondary School all walked away as Wits University’s 2022 top-feeder schools.
“Our learners, parents and community appreciate the relationship we have with Wits, the support we receive from the University is fantastic,” said Al Aqsa School’s principal Hamida Moosa. She further acknowledged the relationship with Wits, adding that the two have a long history and a shared vision.
Principal Craig Strauss received the award on behalf of Greenside High School and praised the work done by the SLO. “The school visits and time spent with our learners help to broader our learners’ minds, exposing them to different opportunities and broaden their horizons on what is available at University.”
The principals were also captivated by guest speaker Professor Benjamin Rosman, School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics who delivered an insightful talk titled Generating the Future: The Power of ChatGPT. Rosman took a deep dive into the advantages and disadvantages that the artificial intelligence model presents. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have been developing for many years, but the release of ChatGPT, a powerful natural language chatbot, in November 2022 has created a global stir.
The SLO will continue to visit schools, attend career fairs, and make Wits the first choice for learners nationwide.