Grassy Park resident Zeid Baker, 60, retired as principal of South Peninsula High School last year, after serving in the teaching profession for 37 years.

After applying at 19 schools for a teaching job in 1987, his alma mater, South Peninsula, offered him a teaching post and he started teaching at the school in 1988.

“The subjects I taught in my first year were biology, general sciences and mathematics. I was mentored by teachers such as the legendary Fred Coker, Brian Isaacs, Antoinnette Wilcox and Daphne Wessels, all members of the Teachers’ League of South Africa (TLSA). The TLSA was a progressive teachers union at the time which greatly assisted me in my political understanding of the education in our country and the true values of an educator. “

Mr Baker was appointed departmental head in 1993 and deputy principal in 1999. “I served as deputy principal, together with Barry Saunders, for 17 years under the leadership of Brian Isaacs. I was appointed acting principal in 2016 and officially appointed principal of SPHS in 2017.”

Mr Baker said his biggest challenge at the school was having to “navigate” through the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The uncertainty of what awaited you next was stressful for all of us. Fortunately, I had the support of the School Governing Body (SGB), an amazing staff and understanding parents. The untimely passing last year of Kirsten September, a Grade 11 student at our school, also affected the school community. This required counselling for both teachers and students.”

Kirsten, 17, and her mother Ruth September, 43, died when their home in Strandfontein was engulfed in flames in July last year.

Mr Baker said achievements, be it academic, sport or the arts at the school is a collective effort where credit goes to everyone involved.

“The school has been fortunate to have had only five principals in its 75-year existence which in my opinion contributed tremendously to the stability at the school.”

Mr Baker said his role as principal was made easy by the contribution of these former principals.

“A blueprint or philosophy for the holistic development of every child and the academic success of this institution, has its origins in the good leadership of these individuals as well as educators and admin staff who embraced their philosophy.”

Mr Baker said his role as principal was to continue along this path and to build on the programmes and traditions initiated by the former principals and teachers at the school.

“Key areas for me was to ensure that the academic standards of the school were maintained, that the discipline remained intact, that we continued to promote a broad co-curricular and extra-curricular programme, as well as promoting tertiary studies and thus ensuring a high throughput rate to the tertiary institutions. In 2023, SPHS was ranked as the 5th highest feeder to UWC (University of Western Cape), 10th highest to UCT (University of Cape Town) and 6th highest to CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology).

“At SPHS, we insist that all students do pure mathematics at an FET (Further Education and Training) level. Here, I must commend deputy principal and head of pure mathematics, Adnaan Ederies, for providing the platform for this to happen. We also offer alpha maths from Grade 10 to Grade 12.”

In the interest of the pupils tertiary education, Mr Baker ensured regular contact with the tertiary institutions, promoting participation in Olympiads, Expo for Young Scientists and entrepreneurial empowerment through programmes such Junior Achievers South Africa as well as monitoring the development and growth of pupils in the arts and various sporting codes. “The support of the SGB and SMT (School Management Teams) proved important during my period as principal,” said Mr Baker.

He acknowledged the contribution of many of the school’s alumni who have assisted the school with various programmes. “A special mention must be made of Professor Shirley Zinn, an ex-student, who contributed tremendously to the teaching of physical sciences at the school,” said Mr Baker.

When asked what inspired him to become a teacher, Mr Baker said: “As a student at SPHS, I was blessed to have had excellent educators. This, no doubt, had a bearing on my decision to become a teacher. My late father, Imam Armien Baker, was also an educator and principal of a school in Simon’s Town. He instilled in me the philosophy that, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Mr Baker acknowledged his staff’s contribution to the school. “I am grateful for a staff who have an excellent work ethic, receptive to innovation in their own subjects and very interested in an extensive extra-curricular programme at the school. Subjects such as marine sciences, agri-sciences and AP maths were introduced at the school because educators were willing to run with these subjects. I am also grateful to the SGB who, especially after Covid, saw the benefit of employing a social worker at the school.”

In retirement, Mr Baker plans to offer his knowledge and experience in education to any organisation or institution which needs support.

“I am also hoping to publish some of the works of my late father. My wife Zurayah, also a former educator and I, through the grace of the Almighty, hope to perform our pilgrimage to Mecca when accredited,” said Mr Baker.

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