Pretoria - The Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria (DSP) offers tuition from three months to Grade 12. It is independently rated as an international school of excellence.
Young minds are prepared for a global future from an early age. Learners in the higher grades are continuously exposed to the challenges of tertiary education and the future.
Teaching is guided by German as well as South African syllabi and prepares learners for the different school-leaving certificates that can be obtained at the DSP.
Ms Kapfhammer, who co-ordinates the combined South African and German qualification at the DSP explains: "Teaching in Secondary School II (Grades 10 to 12) is characterised by small classes that allow intensive debate on content and scientific methods, top results in all examinations and two school-leaving certificates after 12 years."
The DSP offers:
- The German International Abitur and the National Senior Certificate (NSC)from the Independent Examination Board (IEB), called the Kombi-Abitur or;
- The NSC from the IEB together with the German Language Diploma Level 2.Tailor your path to study locally or abroad.
The NSC is a prerequisite for taking up studies in South Africa. The DSP's flexible approach through either the Kombi-Abitur or the NSC in conjunctionwith the German Language Diploma opens the door to study internationally.
The DSP therefore equips its learners to tailor a global future for themselves regardless of the path they choose.
A tale of two learners in two countries
Two top-performing students from 2016 and 2017 gave their view of how the school has prepared them for their post-school journey. Both completed their
Kombi-Abitur at the DSP, both have chosen to study medicine.
Paola Schildhauer from the Class of 2016 has opted to study in Germany while Jessica Wolf from the Class of 2017 has chosen to study in South Africa.
Paola obtained nine distinctions in 2016 and after some work and travel commenced her studies in medicine at the Martin Luther Universität in Halle Germany, where she is now enjoying her second year.
When asked how the DSP prepared her for her studies Paola comments: "The Abitur taught me to think for myself and made me more open-minded, so I was ready to step out into the world and be independent. In terms of knowledge, I was perfectly prepared for the university lectures. In my case, Biology, Physics and Chemistry were no problem for me, thanks to our excellent teachers."
After qualifying at the end of 2017 with a total of 10 distinctions, Jessica started studying medicine at the University of Stellenbosch at the beginning of 2018.
Jessica Wolf from the Class of 2017
She elaborates on the advantage of having completed her Abitur: "Academically, the Abitur is definitely different to the NSC from the IEB. I noticed that there are some things that are done in more depth in the Abitur than in the IEB or NSC and vice versa. In general, however, the Abitur included the more complex topics and taught me how to solve a problem myself.
"In my first semester I had Chemistry and Biology as two of my subjects. In Chemistry I had already covered the entire content in my school career, whereas most of it was completely new to students who previously did an NSC. In Biology I was also familiar with the majority of the content."
Jessica confirmed that the DSP definitely prepared her well for cultural diversity and multifaceted thinking. "I find myself well equipped for group work as well as individual tasks that require a lot of self-discipline. The Abitur in particular has taught me to think in different ways and always have various approaches to solve a problem.
"When given tasks of interpretation and understanding I find that it is a lot easier for me to see the overall concept than for many others that have not enjoyed the education I received at the DSP," she elaborates.
Looking back Jessica summarises her school career as follows: "I can say that the DSP taught me way more than just academics, it taught me how to
tackle life."
Speak German, think global
The basis for a quality German education at the DSP is a command of the German language. The school is geared to support learners with no or little German language skills that show the necessary aptitude and willingness to learn the language. German is taught on a foreign language and mother-tongue level to accommodate the diverse levels of competency of the learners.
Learners who are exposed to German from as young as crèche or kindergarten age have an advantage to learners who start at a later stage.
DSP head girl in 2018, Ofentse Netshivangane
DSP head girl in 2018, Ofentse Netshivangane explains how her passion for German and the German educational system developed: "I started attending the Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria in 2011 as a Grade 5 learner.The environment was still very new and I had to adjust to the different teaching system, but with the help of the friendly pupils and teachers at school, I managed to adjust and enjoyed my time at the DSP.
"Since I was really keen on learning a new language, my eagerness to learn German led me to being the top student in my German class throughout my school career.
"In 2017, I even got the opportunity to travel on a 30-day all- expenses paid trip to Germany after placing second in the annual Nationwide German Language Olympiad. I have fallen in love with the country ever since!"
The DSP also has an active scholar exchange programme for Grade 10 learners and offers study tours to partner universities in Germany for Grade 11 learners. All these opportunities enable deserving learners to experience Germany first hand.
Class of 2018
The Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria's Class of 2018 consists of 49 promising learners who will soon spread their wings either in South Africa or
abroad.
Three of the school's top-performing learners, Tumi Thulare, Ezile Dumzela and Zandile Tabata, who have successfully completed the German Language
Diploma, agree that the DSP has promoted individuality, exposed them to cultural diversity with over 25 nationalities represented at the school. Most of
all, it has opened a world of possibility by empowering them with a sterling education and the added advantage of the German Language Diploma.
We wish them well, in the words of alumni, Paola: "If you work hard and are determined, many doors will open and you will be one step closer to achieving your dream. Just don't give up. You have your entire life in front of you and the world at your feet."