Reflections of the National School of Arts' highs and lows

News24

22-04-2025

The National School of Arts (NSA) artistic director, Brenda Sakellarides, began the interview by sharing with City Press that the school was built as the original Johannesburg College of Education more than 100 years ago.
The school, built as an institute of higher learning, is reflected in the hostels, as there are no traditional dormitories and the pupils are all accommodated in single rooms.
Another striking feature is its enormous tennis court. However, Sakellarides revealed that there were plans to build an amphitheatre in that space, as no tennis is played there.
Over time, some of the school's infrastructure began to deteriorate, prompting the closure of parts of the NSA at the advice of engineers. Securing funding for the repairs has been an uphill battle because there are multiple bodies to be contacted for approval.
While the NSA managed to overcome the financial difficulties threatening the teachers' salaries last August, time has taken its toll on the buildings.
In addition to ceilings on the brink of collapse, some taps were also dripping and the school's electricity needed to be rewired.
Sakellarides said:
We understand that there are a lot of schools that need attention so we can't take a 'what about us stance'. When [Sports, Arts and Culture] Minister Gayton McKenzie visited the school, he immediately offered to bring maintenance workers and agreed to pay for the art educators as per his department's mandate.
"Bathrooms, doors … we suddenly realised that there was a lot to be done. Because if you fix one thing, other things start jumping at you too to say 'fix me too'," she chuckled.
McKenzie's R2 million cash injection ensured that the teachers were taken care of until the end of last year. However, Sakellarides explained that teachers are also safe this year as a result of some of them being members of the school governing body, and others having been moved to the Gauteng Department of Education.
The minister also committed to 35 bursaries, as the school is more talent-focused than the school fees demand. To qualify, pupils must be orphans, Sakellarides explained.
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While some of the disadvantaged pupils end up shining above the rest artistically, the reality is that they need sponsorships.
Ideally, the school, which currently has 460 pupils, needs 65% of paying parents in order to sustain itself adding that fees cost R37 000 per year, payable over ten months, with some pupils qualifying for school fee exemption.
Braamfontein, where the school is situated, bears its own challenges including being linked to drug activity.
Matric learners from St Mary's School, Waverley's School, and the National School of Arts had the opportunity to learn about a world of diverse career opportunities beyond traditional university paths. https://t.co/tj8sU6YEfZ
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Given its geographic location, the school has heightened its security controls and is extra vigilant in monitoring the large campus.
NSA students, as aspiring artists, may be more vulnerable than their peers—especially to drug use—given how many industry professionals have admitted to struggling with substance dependency at some point in their careers.
The socioeconomic issues they may face, coupled with the pressures of being budding creatives, mean they often require extra emotional support and guidance.
Sakellarides gave assurance:
We have a partnership with the JPCCC [the Johannesburg Parent Child Counselling Centre] who place counsellors at the school for one-on-one therapy sessions. Intern counselling psychologists from the counselling and careers development unit at Wits [University] spend a year at the NSA.
"Our school-based support team works conscientiously to monitor the vulnerable learners. If substance abuse is suspected, the learner will be tested and appropriate disciplinary steps taken. There is always a focus on remedial and restorative measures [we are] aware that substance abuse is often a cry for help," she added.
On a more positive note, the school is situated in a cultural and educational precinct with neighbours such as the Joburg Theatre, the Human Rights Commission and others.
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The NSA's music department boasts more than 30 practice rooms, including the Beethoven room, which is to be renamed after late South African jazz legend Gloria Bosman. Sakellarides said it was important for an institution hailed as the leading arts school in Africa to reflect the continent's legacy.
She beamed:
I cannot specify a time yet but some time in the foreseeable future, the school is going to become the home of a Bösendorfer grand piano from the Johannesburg Art Gallery.
Keeping up with the Joneses, the NSA has introduced digital arts into its curriculum and extension programme offering. This includes a digital orchestra, multimedia for the art students and technology-based innovations for those doing drama.
The NSA rivals the other schools in Braamfontein in terms of size and Sakellarides acknowledges that maintaining a space of that magnitude had been no walk in the park.
@GaytonMcK Minister of DSAC shares some of his proudest moments during his 100 Days in Office briefing at @MarketTheatre, including how the National School of Arts was rescued @City_Press pic.twitter.com/IsXotNIqYt
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Some Grade Eight pupils shared with City Press that the biggest challenge coming from traditional primary schools to an arts high school was balancing academics and artistry.
However, they revealed that the transition became easier after a while, allowing them to thrive at the NSA.
Pupil Masa Mchavi explained:
We have a choir. We have dance and other activities we participate in outside our school schedule. Some say it's a lot, but it eventually becomes a daily routine. We struggled in January [when we started], but we are okay now.
Natasha Mzwane described the NSA as a school that breeds multitaskers and advised aspirant pupils to have a balanced schedule and make time to sleep.
Simphiwe Ndhlovu added: "There is no school better than the NSA and I proudly say that. We are the top performing school and if the NSA were to close down, there is no future because there is no other school like it."
Mzwane added that the closure of the NSA would mean no musicians, arguing that it allowed them to express themselves in ways that other schools could not.