History of Elandspark School 

Established in January 1961 and temporarily housed in Comet (Boksburg) as the “Germiston Special School”.  Mr. Jacobus van der Walt was appointed as principal with a staff of 13 (with no training in Special Education) and 100 learners.

Temporary buildings (poorly equipped), difficult conditions and a lack of playgrounds led to various complaints from parents and the community

The school was renamed “Elandspark” after the farm “Elandslaagte”.

Mr. van der Walt designed the school’s coat of arms with a head of an Eland and the motto “Ons streef – We strive”.

Mr. A.C. Meyer was appointed as the first deputy principal with a 4-year Special Education training.  (The school is privileged to have his daughter, Mrs. C. Kruger as HOD, still at the school.)

An average of 7 to 9 out of a 100 learners needed special education at that stage.  A total of 7 schools existed in the Witwatersrand and only 20 Special Education schools existed in the then Transvaal.

The new school in Bedfordview cost R500 000,00 to build in 1968.

This new Elandspark LSEN school opened in the 70’s with 440 learners and 12 to 15 learners per class.  The learners came from 6 areas: Alberton, Germiston, Elsburg, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Modderfontein.

Today learners from Primrose, Klopperpark, Germiston, Witfield, Boksburg, Elspark, Elsburg, Dinwiddie, Rondebult, Vosloorus, Spruitview, Katlehong, Kensington, Malvern and Jeppestown are attending the school

According to Mr. Pienaar: “It (LSEN education) gives you an insight into life that few other teaching jobs can do.  A great deal of patience and human understanding is required, although one must be a strict disciplinarian.

It is the teacher’s primary task to overcome the psychological block to education in the child’s mind and to gain his confidence. Once the child realizes the value of Education in opening the world to him, the teacher has all but won the battle.”