There is no need for education to be boring, says Gareth Allman, the new principal at St Andrew's Prep. He firmly believes education is going through an exciting period, and his teaching philosophy is both to make it interesting for the children and to prepare them for the workplace.
There is no need for education to be boring, says Gareth Allman, the new principal at St Andrew's Prep. He firmly believes education is going through an exciting period, and his teaching philosophy is both to make it interesting for the children and to prepare them for the workplace.
With a wealth of experience, Allman's commitment to his pupils goes well beyond the classroom. In 2009, as principal of Applewood Primary School in Elgin Valley, in the Western Cape, he rode a bike across South Africa, coast to coast, to raise money for one of his students who suffered from Crouzon syndrome – a genetic disorder characterised by the premature fusion of certain skull bones and requiring complex surgery, offered by only a few specialised centres abroad.
Before his tenure at Applewood Primary, he was headmaster at Elkanah House Primary School, in Cape Town, for two years, and is now excited about his family's move to Grahamstown. “We have lived our whole lives in small towns, so moving to Grahamstown, with its beautiful scenery, we feel at home,'' said Allman.
His wife Ilze, also a teacher, will join the staff at Diocesan School for Girls, where his daughter Lisa will begin Grade 11 this year. Allman took over the reins from Graham Gooden, principal for the past 11 years, and is looking forward to working with his new staff. "I have met most of the teachers and I'm full of respect for the team. They appear to be a very hard-working and dedicated group of professionals."
Regarding the current state of education in South Africa, he said, "I think sound leadership and management is critical from the management, principal, school governing body and Department of Education." In relation to teaching as a profession, he believes there needs to be a rediscovery of teaching as a calling, and not just a job.
Allman has a Bachelor of Primary Education degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa) and a Higher Diploma in Education at Pretoria College. In his spare time he enjoys outdoor activities such as road- and mountain-biking, hiking, and scuba diving. He also holds provincial colours in biathlon.
