1948 – 'n Beskeie begin / 1948 – A Humble Beginning

Die geskiedenis van Laerskool Malelane is saamgestel deur dr. W. Radley en mnr. P.M.J. Otto.

Dr. W. Radley, beter bekend as Oom Will, en sy vrou, Tannie Marietjie, was van die eerste boere in die Malelane-gemeenskap. Hulle liefde vir kinders en passie vir onderwys het die grondslag gelê vir die stigting van Laerskool Malelane.

Destyds was plaaslike kinders verplig om vir laerskoolonderrig na Komatipoort of Nelspruit te reis, terwyl hoërskoolleerlinge na Lydenburg of Belfast moes gaan. Die behoefte aan 'n plaaslike skool het al hoe groter geword.

In 1948 het 'n groep boere besluit om 'n skool op Malelane te vestig. Mev. L. de Villiers het namens die gemeenskap aansoek gedoen vir die oprigting van 'n private, staatsondersteunde skool. Weens 'n tekort aan fondse is die versoek egter afgekeur.

Vasbeslote om die kinders van die omgewing te help, het Tannie Marietjie Radley begin om ses leerlinge by haar huis op die plaas Eendag te onderrig. Wanneer swaar reën die paaie onbegaanbaar gemaak het, het sy die kinders self met haar man se Jeep gaan haal.

Die skool het vinnig gegroei en die leerlingtal het spoedig tot 14 toegeneem. Die plaasstoep wat as klaskamer gedien het, het te klein geword, waarna die skool na 'n ou rooi baksteenskuur net buite Malelane verskuif is. Hier is ook die eerste skoolkonsert aangebied, met solosang, voordragte en twee kort toneelstukke. Die geleentheid het R58,99 ingesamel.
The history of Laerskool Malelane was compiled by Dr. W. Radley and Mr. P.M.J. Otto.

Dr. W. Radley, affectionately known as Oom Will, and his wife, Mrs. Marietjie Radley, were among the first farming families in the Malelane community. Their love for children and passion for education laid the foundation for the establishment of Laerskool Malelane.

At the time, local children travelled to Komatipoort or Nelspruit for primary school, while high school learners attended school in Lydenburg or Belfast. The need for a local school grew steadily.

In 1948, a group of local farmers decided to establish a school in Malelane. Mrs. L. de Villiers applied on behalf of the community for a private, state-aided school, but the request was declined due to insufficient funding.

Determined to help the children of the area, Mrs. Marietjie Radley began teaching six learners at her home on the farm Eendag. During heavy rains, when roads became impassable, she personally collected the children in her husband's Jeep.

The school grew rapidly, and enrolment soon increased to 14 learners. The farmhouse veranda soon became too small, and the school moved to an old red-brick shed outside Malelane. The first school concert was also held there, raising R58.99 through songs, recitations and short plays.

 

Groei en ontwikkeling / Growth and Development
In 1950 het die skool na die Boeresaal verhuis en op 1 Augustus 1950 amptelik geopen. Die skool het 'n staatskool geword en Tannie Marietjie Radley is as eerste skoolhoof aangestel.

Teen 1955 is die huidige skoolgebou opgerig en teen 1956 was daar reeds 74 leerlinge.

In 1964 is 'n koshuis gebou vir leerlinge van Kaalrug en Swaziland. In 1966 is die swembad voltooi en 'n Engels-talige afdeling ingestel, wat die leerlingtal tot 174 verhoog het.

 

In 1950 the school moved to the Boeresaal and officially opened on 1 August 1950. It became a government school and Mrs. Marietjie Radley was appointed as the first principal.

By 1955 the current school buildings had been completed, and by 1956 enrolment had grown to 74 learners.

In 1964 a hostel was built for learners from Kaalrug and Swaziland. In 1966 the swimming pool was completed and an English-medium section was introduced, increasing enrolment to 174 learners.

 

Verdere uitbreiding / Further Expansion
In 1973 is die skoolsaal en sportterrein in gebruik geneem. 'n Skoolbus is in 1979 aangeskaf, wat uiteindelik tot die sluiting van die koshuis gelei het. Die administratiewe kompleks is in 1988 voltooi en spreiligte is in 1990 opgerig.

In 1973 the school hall and sports grounds were opened. A school bus was purchased in 1979, eventually leading to the closure of the hostel. The administration complex was completed in 1988 and floodlights were installed in 1990.

Skoolhoofde deur die jare / Principals Through the Years
Na mnr. Otto het mnr. De Wet, mnr. Sampie Lundie, mnr. Gert Delport en sedert 2014 mnr. Gerben Janse van Rensburg as skoolhoofde gedien.
Following Mr. Otto, the school was led by Mr. De Wet, Mr. Sampie Lundie, Mr. Gert Delport and, since 2014, Mr. Gerben Janse van Rensburg.
Vandag / Today
Meer as sewe dekades later huisves Laerskool Malelane meer as 480 leerlinge en beskik oor 19 onderwysers, 4 studente-onderwysers, 4 administratiewe personeellede en 7 ondersteuningspersoneellede.

Die verhaal van Laerskool Malelane is een van visie, deursettingsvermoë en gemeenskapsgees – 'n nalatenskap wat sedert 1948 generasies Lanies help om groot te droom en hoog te vlieg.
More than seven decades later, Laerskool Malelane is home to more than 480 learners and has a dedicated staff of 19 teachers, 4 student teachers, 4 administrative staff members and 7 support staff.

The story of Laerskool Malelane is one of vision, perseverance and community spirit, a legacy that has inspired generations of Lanies to dream big and fly high since 1948.