One of the largest schools in South Africa with over 3,300 students

In Umlazi, just outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, is a high school that has been operating for nearly 60 years and is known as one of the largest in the country by student population.

The Ogwini Comprehensive High School currently has more than 3,300 pupils, with over 500 in matric, and maintains a pass rate of over 80%.

The school was first opened in 1968 during the apartheid era, when Umlazi was established as a major black township.

Over the years, Ogwini learners have gone on to achieve success in various professional fields, including accounting, law, teaching, and even Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes technical skills in areas such as civil, technological, mechanical engineering, and metal work.

A minimum of nine subjects, including Mathematics, are compulsory for students from Grade 8.

The school holds extra study sessions in the morning and afternoon to support students in achieving strong matric results. 

This has seen various students excel, from getting full scholarships to Ivy League schools, to winning Eskom Regional Science Expos.

Beyond the classroom, school life also boasts a range of sports and cultural activities.

In addition to a competitive football team, known as the Ogwini Bafana RFC, the school has active netball team that participate in local leagues and competitions.

The school’s chess team has achieved significant success, with students winning at the district level.

Culturally, the school celebrates the diversity and heritage of its student body through events like annual Heritage Day celebrations.

Wanting to make a difference in the lives of pupils

A core tenant of the school’s longevity and success was the now retired principal, Dr. Vusumuzi Dlamini.

Dlamini attained a teaching qualification in 1984 and, a year later, he began teaching maths and science at Ogwini.

In 1994, he obtained a BA in maths and geography at the University of Zululand and became headmaster of Ogwini in 1998.

He entered at a time when the pass mark at the large school had dropped significantly. “In 1999, because we were so understaffed, it dropped to 48%,” Dlamini told IOL. “I was angry.”

He then instituted a strategy of “strongly supervised study” and started working with parents.

That year, the school’s pass rate sprang up to 75%. “And since then, it’s never dropped below 80%,” he said.

In 1999, the principal earned a Bachelor of Education (BEd) Honours in educational management at Stellenbosch University.

In 2002, he obtained his Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Educational Psychology from the University of Zululand, and in 2005, he earned a PhD in Educational Psychology.

In 2010, got a second Master’s qualification – an MBA in business management at Regent Business School.

He retired from the school in 2024, having overseen over 3,300 learners and 100 staff members, and reminisced about the achievements they had achieved, given the 2024 matric pass rate of 85%.

“We believe in working extra hard and going the extra mile to involve children in activities to engage them. This included weekend classes and late evening classes,” Dlamini had told IOL.

Dlamini attributed the success to the extra efforts of the staff and pupils. However, there are still challenges, like cited large class sizes averaging, leading to heavy teacher workloads.

Now, he says the school is left in the hands of a large team of passionate teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of every pupil, despite some of the challenges.

“My message to teachers is to keep on working hard as there are too many challenges on the ground.”

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