Marken Primary celebrates 65 years

Marken Primary School celebrated its 65th birthday last Friday. Learners learnt about the school’s rich history from headmaster Ramon Bronkhorst and a former pupil of the School, Oom Dors Nel (77). Oom Dors atten-ded the school as a grade 7 learner in 1949, less than a year after the school opened its doors on 27 April 1948.
“From a very humble beginning in a single classroom Marken Primary School has advanced through the years of hard work and dedication to a school we can really be proud of today. We have a rich history of which we can be very proud. Many people in the past have made sacrifices in order to bring Marken Primary School to where it is today,” Bronkhorst told learners.
The school is in possession of records that started as far back as 1922 when the school opened with 15 learners on a farm called Oatlands near Swartwater. In 1926 the school moved to Murchison (5km from Marken) where it opened with 21 learners.
In October 1930 the Murchison 472 School moved to Marken and merged with Johannesburg 861 School to become Marken Central School on 27 April 1948, with S.W Breytenbach as principal.
Learners from Welgedact, Unitas and Mokopane also attended the school and that year 116 children were enrolled.
Friday’s celebrations included a beautiful performance by the school’s choir with the highlight being the slice of chocolate cake for each of the 285 learners and staff who are all very proud of their school.