Bible-based education with Christian values in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Being the first graduate of Alexandria Christian Academy, I was often confronted with the question of the standard of my education in ACE, as being different from public schooling. Although much assurance was given by ACE students excelling in tertiary studies, it remained an uncertain factor in my future.

I started with the ACE curriculum in 2000 when I was in grade 4 and graduated in 2008. I enjoy being independent and working on my own, therefore ACE suited me perfectly.

By the grace of God I got accepted at the University of Pretoria to study towards a Veterinary Science degree, and I started my studies in 2009. Adapting to university was much easier than I expected. I expected it to be very challenging to go from working in my own office to attending lectures in lecture halls filled with hundreds of students, and I thought the other students that came from public schools would adapt easier than I would. However, I soon found that university is very similar to the ACE system of working. In university you also work independently most of the time. The lecturer mainly explains difficult concepts and tells you what to study, but after the lecture you still have to go read your textbook and do any example questions that there might be, which is very similar to working in PACEs.

In university you have to work hard from the first day of the term until the last. ACE taught me exactly that. Since we don’t have examination periods, the pace of working stays constant throughout the whole term.

In order to study extremely large volumes of work, you have to break it into bite-size sections, otherwise you’ll find it extremely difficult to study all the required material. This is where goal setting comes in. Setting my own goals from a very young age in ACE enabled me to set daily goals in my studies, which helped me to master large amounts of work.

Memorizing Scripture verses helped me develop memory skills, which turned out to be extremely useful when studying medical and scientific terminology.
Most importantly, ACE taught me that faith and science go hand in hand. I was filled with awe of God’s Creation as we were taught scientific concepts and realized time and again that such complex processes couldn’t merely have come about by chance. This made me more enthusiastic about my studies and helped me grow in faith and determination.

Questions are often asked about the standard of ACE. I think the standard of ACE is way above that of other schools. I found most of the university work easier than the other students in my class because ACE covers that work comprehensively at school level. I also showed my younger sister, who is in grade 12, some of the chemistry work we did during the year, and she recognized most of it. A retired science teacher who helps teach science at our school had a look at our Science PACEs and he was very impressed. He said that most of the work we do in grade 12 is not covered in public schools. Those students only learn it at university level.

Due to the different Math approach in public schools I found it beneficiary to work through old exam papers from public schools in preparation for the AARP.

Growing up in a small town and being in a small school didn’t have any negative impact on my social development. On the contrary, it definitely helped me develop some important social skills, since it forced me to work and play with others that I didn’t get along with well or that weren’t my age. Also, I was always the oldest student in the school and often had to take on leadership roles, which helped me develop leadership skills that I probably wouldn’t have developed in a different situation. The annual All Africa Student Convention was the highlight of each year. What made it so special was being with so many like minded students. I also had the privilege of attending the International Student Convention in 2008, where I made many new friends.

At university God blessed me with a good group of friends and I was never pressurised to compromise my Christian standards.

I ended the year with a 90% average, and I was rewarded by the university with an achievement bursary of R15000. Going to an ACE school made this possible and I am extremely grateful to my parents for schooling me in ACE. I am grateful to God for helping me to cope with the hard work and carrying me through times when I thought I wouldn’t make it. He richly rewarded my hard work and I couldn’t have done it without Him.

Regional competition held at Tarkastad, Plumb line Christian Academy, 4 students qualified for Southern Cape SACSSA colours

Learners trained in group dynamics and leadership skills

Alexandria Christian Academy took the whole school on a leadership training/ adventure camp in October in the picturesque town of Hogsback. The camp was life changing in more than one way. Learners from Grade 1 – 12 were trained in group dynamics and leadership skills, whilst exposed to challenges ranging from hanging on a trapese 10 metres high in the air, abseiling, rope course challenges and hikes to the beautiful waterfalls in the area. They also did a night hike without any flashlights or torches. Academically they learned about the area’s nature, ecosystems and history of the early settlers and Xhosa settlements. They learned how to function better in a group, and how to overcome their fears.

Rev. Matie van Niekerk, of the Bible society, visited the Boschoek Farmschool in the Valley of Boschoek on 4 November 2008 to hand over proclaimers (talking Bibles of the New Testament). Alexandria Christian Academy sent Zoleka Maya of the United Reformed Church in Kwanonqubela to receive a Proclaimer on behalf of them (ACA) to be used in their ladies Bible study group, and in their soup kitchen. Learners from Alexandria Christian Academy who are involved in the soup kitchen in Kwanonqubela, were happy to see the joy on their faces, on their visit to the soup kitchen on Wednesday. Pensioners who came for their daily soup, were offered chairs and sat down to listen to the Gospel being read in their own language on the Proclaimer. The proclaimers are sponsored by Americans, and the requirement is that feedback and attendance lists must be submitted regularly to them. Alexandria Christian Academy will oversee that and be responsible for feedback. The need is great, as most of the ladies of the Bible Study group are illiterate, and very seldom hear the Gospel in their own language.

Matie brought two more Xhosa proclaimers for the Boschoek Farm school and gave it to the teachers: Boniwe Teyise (principal), Notembiso Konza en Thobeka Mhlanga. These are for use in the school. The school only had one Bible up to now, and therefore the Proclaimers will be put to good use.

Molly Bam

Sixteen years ago the Lord gave a vision to Molly Bam telling her to look after His children. He opened doors when everyone thought that there was no way to do it. She began looking after 3 boys and over the years it has grown to a wonderful ministry for Christ. She now has 5 foster kids and 7 adopted. But there is much more than that. She feeds about 50 children every day and sends almost 60 children to schools and provides the uniform and money. Oceans of mercy support them with funds for new buildings that they can carry on their wonderful work. She works with HIV children as well and loves them very much. She takes in children and keeps contact with the families. Some mothers even work there as nannies to look after their children and form a bond with them. They want to build seven cottages to house more children with a mommy in each house to look after the children. The Lord gave them the verse of Mark 10:14 to build their ministry on. They are doing wonderful work for the community and their vision is to see no street children.

Students from Alexandria Christian Academy took part in the SACCA national athletics meeting in Durban on the 18^th and 19^th of September. Six of our students qualified to take part and four participated.  We took part in items including 200m, 100m, 800m, high jump and long jump. Some of the South Cape athletes qualified to take part in the SACCA invitationals which will be held in Pretoria on the 25^th of October.

SACSSA Athletics

Ndlambe manager, Principal of ACA and Ndlambe Mayor

Mayor, Vukile Balura and Manager George Ngesi blessed ACA by paying a courtesy visit to the school, getting themselves acquinted with this private school facility in Alexandria, that has been in existance for 7 years. Ndlambe will now have more information to use when marketing the area and this school in Alexandria. They made a remarkable impression on both learners and staff, while they were taken on a tour through the facilities and the program of individualized Christian education was explained to them. ACA salutes these two men for the remarkable job they are doing and undertakes to keep them and their families in their prayers for the key roles they are playing in Ndlambe and especially Alexandria.

On the 4^th of June at school we had a special day for our parents.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.  We had to prepare the food for our parents.  At first we sang on stage and some of the children said their Scripture and poems.  After that I had to go and sing for everyone with my brother.  I was pretty nervous but God helped me.  It was some kind of a night and the best part of my mom’s day.  She was surprised she never knew I could make such a meal she was so proud.  I learned a lesson from that day.  That took away my fears.  My mother never knew I could sing so beautifully.  It was a fun night for us the kids and our parents. So you might as well watch out you never know we might be back again.  After I sang I was speechless because I have never done it before.

Parent Appreciation Dinner