Dale College Boys' High School

By July 1859 good schools have recently been opened in King Williams Town, for young persons of both sexes. 6 Sept, 1877. Foundation stone of Dale College was laid by the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere The Headmaster RH Fuller announced that Sir Langham Dale had consented to his name being used to name the school. Dale College Building in Queen Road officially opened.

The present high school buildings stand on the highest point of the campus. The school facilities include an assembly hall and a gym hall, a library and a computer room and well-equipped classrooms and science labs, as well as exceptional sporting facilities.

Born on the turbulent Eastern Cape Frontier, Dale College and its precursor has shared more than 150 years of South African history, ranging from bitter conflict to its own transformation into the multi-cultural college of today.

Dale College has always been associated with sporting excellence. Current sport codes include Cricket, Athletics, Tennis, Soccer, Hockey, Rugby, Squash and Cross Country. The school has produced a significant number of sportsman to wear national colours, the latest of which is Scarra Ntabeni.

Dale College prides itself on a representative staff, actively engaging in the rediscovery of quality schooling in the Eastern Cape. The school is led by Mr Garth Shaw and Mr Viwo Nzima, a new Principal and an experienced educator who is engrained in the Dale College context.Dale College prides itself on a representative staff, actively engaging in the rediscovery of quality schooling in the Eastern Cape. The school is led by Mr Garth Shaw and Mr Viwo Nzima, a new Principal and an experienced educator who is engrained in the Dale College context.

Dale College has a long history as a school of excellence. While sporting prowess has often outshone that in the classroom, current leadership at the school is committed to ensuring that learners leave Dale College, first and foremost, with a strong academic foundation. Discipline, academic stimulation and a sense of participation are pillars with which Dalians will take their place as active citizens in South Africa. Through classroom interaction we aim to develop these pillars.

Learners are stimulated in what we pride ourselves on as relatively small classes for Public Schools – with grades of approximately 110 learners generally being split into four classes.

Drama is an integral part of our society today and a means of stimulating creativity in problem solving. This society is students-led, currently spearheaded by learners who took the initiative to showcase their diverse talent in this department. These learners use their talents to challenge students’ perceptions about their world and about themselves. Dramatic exploration and engagement can provide students with an outlet for emotions, thoughts and dreams that they might not otherwise have means to express. At Dale College, through drama, this exposure happens in a safe environment, where actions and consequences can be examined, discussed, and in a very real sense experienced without the dangers and pitfalls that such experimentation would obviously lead to in the outside world.

The drama society also provides a platform for learners to engage in the practical aspects of communication which are necessary in today’s increasingly information-centered world. Involvement in Drama requires self-control and discipline that will serve the student well in all aspects of life. Learners will learn to work together, cooperate, find the best way for each member of a group to contribute, listen to and accept the viewpoints and contributions of others, important skills in a world that is increasingly team-oriented.

The walls of the school hall ricochet to the melody of the voices of Dalians performing their renowned ‘gwijos’. The sounds of these Dale College voices are what Mrs Kewana and Mr Madolo tap in order to form an entertaining choir that delivers melodies on the school’s major events. Learners with a flair for music have their talent recognized and nurtured. The choir gives learners an opportunity to interact outside the classroom and bond as a unit or team and learn the value of diversity and working as a team for a common goal.

Dale College boasts of a vibrant debating club. We have an active team taking part in the Border debating competitions, speaking contests and forum discussions. The Dale College debating team is regarded as one of the best in the Eastern Cape. Under the leadership of the passionate Ms Mbambo, the team shows dedication and passion by always working late in preparation for their competitions. The boys who form this team show the effects of open-mindedness in their academic performances as well.