Our History
St Monica’s has grown out of St Stephen’s Playschool
The school opened its doors in 1990 in response to the community’s expressed needs. During 1993 it became clear that the demand for English medium education in Matatiele was such that the existing schools could not meet the needs.
The St Stephen’s Playschool community then approached the Church authorities with the request to facilitate the opening of a school. The Church agreed and offered the disused church of St Monica’s in Seymour Street, as a site. A board of Governors made up of representatives of the local church and parents was constituted. After much hard work the school opened with 24 children in two classes on the 18th January 1994.
When the Seymour Street property became inadequate, the property on the corner of Station Road and School Street was renovated and extended. By the end of 1999 Gr. R to 7 were accommodated on the property. In 1999 the “Coronation Hall” was bought and renovated for the use as a school hall.
At the beginning of 2000 the Playschool officially moved down from the Church grounds in Main Street to the old St Monica’s Church building.
In 2003 we purchased the property on the corner of School Street and North Street and three more classrooms, a computer room as well as a library were built. In 2005 we introduced Grade 9 and acquired Edu–Kid – a prominent private school in town.
In 2012 we introduced our FET Band following a grant from Anglo American to build 6 new classrooms and a new Computer Laboratory. In 2014 we offered grade 12 for the first time and celebrated our 20th Anniversary.
In 2016, after further funding for infrastructure development, our Preschool relocated to the Station Road Campus, our administration block moved to the Coronation Hall and we took occupation of the new Hall.
Since 2017, we have offered the National Senior Certificate through the Independent Examination Board (IEB). The School has also been granted full accreditation through UMALUSI.
