Celebrating 40 years of excellence

Spine Road High School in Rocklands marked its 40th anniversary by renaming its hall in honour of former principal Riyaadh Najaar.

- MARSHA BOΤΗΜΑ

The Spine Road High School hall is called the Riyaadh Najaar Education Centre.

The event, held on Thursday April 17, celebrated four decades of community-driven progress and recognised the leadership that helped the school become one of Mitchell's Plain's top-performing institutions.

The school was established in 1984 as Mitchell's Plain High School number 12 under the founding former principal Moegamat Adnaan Davis. Soon after, it was renamed Spine Road High by staff and leadership.

In 1993, Riyaadh Najaar became principal, taking over a school with a 40% pass rate and transforming it into one that would later boast multiple 100% matric pass rates - in 2014 and 2017 - along with a consistent average of 99%, and pupils earning top university placements.

"It started with nothing. We had no money, but with faith, support, and hard work, we built a school that serves its people with dignity and excellence," said Mr Najaar.

He credited Mr Davis as the person who laid the foundation for the hall and said it was built with the support of staff and community members committed to creating state-of-the-art facilities despite financial challenges.