The History of Assegai Primary School
Assegai Primary School, named after HMS Assegai which ran aground off Treasure Beach. The school opened in 1962.
The first appointed principal was Mr E. Steward with initially Mr Bloy as Deputy Principal followed by Mr T. Van Wyk in 1986. The school at this stage, was the only duel medium primary school – there were two streams and the Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT) was English as well as Afrikaans for a component of learners. At one stage the school included Standard Six (Grade 8). Mr E. Stewart was succeeded by Mr G.G.V. Carls in January 1984. The enrollment was 684 learners, 527 pupils in English medium classes from Sub A to Std 5 and 121 pupils in Afrikaans medium class from Sub A to Std 5. The staff consisted of 23 educators.
In 1986 the Afrikaans medium classes were discontinued as numbers reduced to 44 learners in Std’s 2 to 5. In addition, in 1986, a piano tuition class commenced and 27 learners received an hour tuition per week for a minimal fee of R40 per year. in 1987, the enrollment increased to 904 learners from the newly introduced Pre Primary classes to Std 6 with 37 teachers on staff. There seven Std 6 classes with an enrollment of 244 learners.
The closure of Northgate Primary School in 1988, heralded the amalgamation of Northgate and Assegai Primary School and the Std 6 classes moved to Durban East Primary.
In 1989, Mr Leeuw joined the staff as Deputy Principal. He became acting Principal in 1994 with Mr T. Webster (1993) and Mrs O. Abrahams (1994) as Deputy Principal. Mr Leeuw as pointed principal in July 1995 and took as early retirement/severance package in December 1996. Mr T. Webster became the appointed principal in 1998 with Mrs O. Abrahams as Deputy Principal. Mr R Miller was appointed second Deputy Principal in 1999 and retired in April 2014. In October 2014 Mr N. Blankenberg was appointed Deputy Principal.
Mr T. Webster retired in November 2015 and Mrs O. Abrahams assumed the role as Acting Principal from 1 December 2015 to date. The enrollment now stands at 1222 learners, from Grade R to 7 with 35 educators on staff.