In with the new, out with the old

The 27th of January might have been an ordinary day for everyone else, but for the PK learners and faculty, it was so much more.

PK has welcomed a new addition to the family: a new school gate. Construction started in November 2025 and the gate was officially inaugurated in January. The new gate is made of bricks, giving the school a more snazzy façade. The previous gate was a run-of-the-mill fenced entrance that had been in place for almost as long as the school.

PK celebrated its 78th birthday on the same day, and to mark the occasion, it invited numerous guests who have played a role in shaping the school into what it is today. Guests included the governor of the //Kharas Region, the regional director of education, the inspector of education for the Kalahari circuit, and many more.

The gate was designed by architects – but not your usual architects. They were learners from PK. The design was selected through a competition, where learners were asked to submit their ideas for how the gate should look. Many designs were entered and played a role, but of course, only the best was chosen. The winning design was created by Dedel Akata, Professor Ndeitunga and Willyn Diergaardt. The learners’ efforts have been recognised with their names engraved on a marble plaque at the entrance to the gate.

The gate symbolises new beginnings for learners, staff and the school as a whole. Although it is not yet fully completed, it is about 80% finished. Many learners have shared their thoughts on the new gate, with most expressing positive views, showing that the renovation has left a favourable impression on the school. Cheers to a new chapter for PK de Villiers, and we hope to see more improvements done to the facilities in the near future!