Phoenix College

Phoenix College makes its mark!

Founded in 1994, Phoenix College has provided quality education at an affordable cost. Today it is one of the best “low fee independent schools” serving the lower socio economic group of previously disadvantaged learners. It was recently mentioned in “Hidden Assets”, a report by the “Centre for Development and Enterprise” sponsored by the Templeton Foundation in the U.S.A.

Phoenix College has made its mark as a valuable and integral part of the community by obtaining many remarkable achievements academically, athletically and recreationally, including obtaining 100% matric pass rate since 2008.

The need for Independent Education

Both the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, as well as the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, identified the essential role that independent schools would need to play in order for the national education strategy to be achieved. As it is foreseen that the state would not be able to provide the total education needs of the country at the required level for the foreseeable future, independent schools will continue to play an important role in providing quality education.

Many independent schools were started during the previous dispensation in order to assist with the education of disadvantaged learners who were not catered for at that time. Beyers Naude High School, previously located in Braamfontein, was an example of an independent school that was established to respond to this need. When Beyers Naude High School closed, the learners were accommodated by Phoenix College as a result of a recommendation by the Gauteng Department of Education.

It has also been pointed out at meetings of the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee held at the Gauteng legislature that not only do independent schools cost the state less than one third of what they would have paid to educate a learner in a public school, while costing parents less to send their children to these schools than to former model ”C” schools, but that independent schools in the province have during the period 2009 to 2017 often achieved a higher average matric pass rate than that achieved by public schools.

The Founding and Development of Phoenix College

Fred Boltman, a retired engineer, used his savings, insurance payouts and pension payout to found Phoenix College in order to empower the community by supplying quality education at an affordable cost to historically disadvantaged learners from the poorer socio economic classes. The Phoenix in Greek mythology was a bird that died in flames. Out of the ashes, a baby bird was born. In 1994, the name Phoenix College was chosen to

be symbolic of the new dispensation that was arising out of the ashes. Phoenix College was born.

Located at Happiness House, the school is conveniently close to rail and taxi services, but the building may not be able to accommodate planned future growth. Phoenix College is engaged with planning a second school for which the land has already been purchased.

The full time school caters mainly for learners that live in the inner city with some learners from Katlehong, Thokoza, Soweto, Alexandra and a few learners from outside our borders.

In about 2006, however, Phoenix College took in 16 refugees from the DRC whose parents had been massacred in the war. They were fed, provided with uniforms and after they passed matric, they were united with family members that were traced overseas. Many of them obtained their degrees in Sweden, Canada,the U.S.A. and other countries.

The Phoenix College Saturday School providess extra lessons to uplift learners from poorly performing public schools in outlying districts. Since 1994, the total learner base has grown to approximately 1255 learners. The total full time staff complement is 72 while the Saturday School and the Matric Rewrite Centre have additional casual teaching staff. Phoenix College is fully BEE compliant.

What makes Phoenix College great!

Co-operative and Excellent Management

• Presented by the Gauteng Department of Education • Total commitment to Education • The Director has an open door policy

Caring for children

• The “World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the

Child” awarded to Phoenix College by a Swedish

N.G.O. for the part played in re-uniting learners with their families in foreign countries • Numerous positive testimonials from parents • Bursaries awarded to eligible children • Children who cannot get home are cared for

Excellent Education Unique Educational Offerings

• SETA and other skills training courses in areas such as Entrepreneurship and Project Management • Computer / Mathematics lessons offered to learners from public schools

Technology Oriented School

• Offers the subject of Information Technology covering the Delphi programming language

Other Distinguishing Features

• Counseling on subject and employment choices to Grade 9 and Grade 12 learners • Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol • Good discipline