MARITZBURG COLLEGE
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
From the Chairman
“IF YOU THINK EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE,
TRY IGNORANCE”
It is that time of the year when the school management has commenced budget preparations for the 2014 year, and it is perhaps a pertinent
time to share some insight into this process with the College Community.
I would like to flesh out some background to this process:• * Maritzburg College is a “state” school. The land and buildings belong
to the state.
• The Department of Education (DOE) only provide Maritzburg College
with approximately 20% of the gross revenue to run and manage the
entire school and boarding establishment.
• The DOE contribution of 20% towards the gross school revenue includes the salaries of approximately 53% of the educators at the school.
• The school employs 40 educators and 36 support staff and the Governing Body employs 35 educators and 34 support staff. There is a total
staff compliment of 145 staff.
• The school budget works on a “break even process” which allows the
Governing Body to only budget annual fees according to estimated
annual costs.
• The total budget to run Maritzburg College amounts to approximately
R75 million per annum.
The reality of the position facing Maritzburg College and specifically the
parents and prospective parents, is that we are “on our own” and we are
effectively a private school.
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Our resources and facilities are world class.
Our educators and support staff are world class.
Our results and “final product”, being our pupils, are world class.
As a “world class” institution we are also competing for talent, being educators and pupils, with private schools, in KwaZulu-Natal, and in order to maintain and better our standards, we are going to have to accept the fact that, as
parents, we are going to have to pay a premium price for our boys to enjoy
and benefit from the premium destination that Maritzburg College provides.
Third Quarter 2013
FNB CONCERT IN THE PARK
Maritzburg College 2013
The annual ‘FNB CONCERT IN THE PARK’ on Goldstone’s Field, Maritzburg College was a resounding
success! The thousand-strong audience were entertained throughout the day with a world class symphony
orchestra, fantastic performances by current pupils and
O.C’s as well as many other crowd-pleasing soloists.
On a field where many games of rugby have been won
and lost, concert-goers were treated to a veritable feast
of music and entertainment.
Old Collegians who perfomed on the day included Nigel Fish on the Cello, Anthony Stonier, Dwayne du Toit,
Mario Ogle and Jesse Filaferro (all vocalists), Luke
Wyngaard (vocals and guitar), Ryan Hosking (piano),
and Rory Elliot and guitarist Carl Wegelin of “Plush”.
Pietermaritzburg-born soprano Bongiwe Madlala blew
audiences away when she took to the stage to sing arias by Johan Strauss and the magnificent ‘Ebben’ from
‘La Wally’. She returned to the stage later in the afternoon to perform the Freddie Mercury favourite “Barcelona” with guest artist Joseph Clark.
A new addition to the programme this year was the extra entertainment from “Platform Jazz” after the KZNPO
performance. This 10-piece band took the audience on
a whirlwind tour of classic jazz numbers and standards.
They were joined by vocalists Shelley Maclean and Joseph Clark who got the crowds up on their feet.
Our grateful thanks to Cameron McKenzie, Christopher
Duigan and Brad Glasspool for their tireless work and
professionalism, which made this wonderful event possible!
Maritzburg College provides a unique education experience for our boys,
and we have to face the fact that our fees will continue to escalate beyond
base inflation, and that it is the responsibility of every parent to ensure that
fees are paid timeously and accurately. The Maritzburg College journey is
not about “entitlement” or free education. The Maritzburg College journey is
about sacrifice and commitment from parents to pay their fees.
In conclusion, I urge all parents to make school fees a priority to ensure that
we continue to build, secure and position Maritzburg College as a world class
educational institution. We are all in this together.
Please make sure that you play your part and pay
your fees timeously and accurately. Each and every
contribution counts.
Steve Colenbrander
CHAIRMAN
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