The Kenmont school

The Kenmont School is a highly specialized, multi-racial long-term remedial school offering an academic or vocational programme for learners with specific learning disabilities, unable to cope in a mainstream school. Learners from all backgrounds are referred to the school from throughout KwaZulu-Natal. Kenmont strives to  progressively prepare Learners for a brighter future.

During the second half of 1979, the Department of Education and Culture in Pretoria approached the (NCA) Natal Cerebral Palsy Association to sponsor a school for children with Learning Disabilities in Montclair.

When budget became available, Representatives of the NCPA travelled from Pretoria and held a meeting in the VIP lounge of Durban International Airport ( old Louis Botha Airport) with members of the Governing Body of the Browns School.

The concept of a School for Specific Learning Disabilities was approved and the pilot school was opened in Montclair as a satellite school of The Browns school situated in Pinetown.

Mr Potgieter from Browns’ School was appointed Principal and it was decided to appoint the same Board members for Kenmont as the Browns’ School.

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21 Months, on 1 January 1982, later the school got its independence.  

The school was situated on the corner of Kenyon Howden and Montclair Road and  the building was leased from the Catholic Church.

A competition was held to determine the name of the school. The Kenmont School name was formed as an acronym of  Kenyon Howden Road and Montclair.

The initial enrollment was 32 (Grade 1 to 6) with 5 educators.

On 23 August 1984, Cabinet Minister Viljoen attended an Official opening ceremony of The Kenmont School.

The school grew rapidly and needed new premises.  The Kenmont School was granted the new premises by the Department of Education and moved to 45 Island view road on 24 June 1991.

In 1994, the first grade 10 learners were introduced to Hotel and Catering as a subject and in 1996 The first Matriculants were enrolled for the Senior Certificate .

The Kenmont School developed to be a highly specialized, multi-racial remedial school for learners from grade R to 12 with average to above-average IQ’s, who have been diagnosed as specific learning disabled, largely on account of some form of neurological dysfunction.  

At Kenmont we always strive to help learners reach their full potential. Various curriculum differentiation strategies are introduced.  The Technical Vocational unit makes provision for learners 13 years and older that are unable to cope with the Academic NSC curriculum.

 The specific aims of the differentiated Curriculum and Technical Vocational Curriculum are to provide a foundation of quality, standardised general education which will suit the needs of these learners and help prepare them to be more independent and for life after school.

Whether they follow the pure academic stream or whether they enter a Technical Occupational stream, the school promotes Lifelong learning to enable learners to continue with further learning and skills in a fully inclusive society and occupational environment.

• Academic Stream (Grade R-12). The NSC (National Senior Certificate)  syllabus is followed. Subject Package offered is Career Orientated and learners can achieve a Bachelor Pass in order to study further.  The package include  the following subjects: English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language, Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation, Computer Application Technology, Hospitality Studies and Tourism Studies.

• After attempting grade 6, Learners not coping with the Academic curriculum have the choice of entering the Vocational Unit.   Subjects offered in the Commercial Occupational stream is Hospitality Studies, Office Administration and Wholesale & Retail as practical subjects.The programme runs over four years and is  piloted in 2019.

• The CAPS curriculum is followed and standards are adhered to. The curriculum is differentiated and each learner has an IEP (Individualized Educational Program within the curriculum).

Kenmont is not a private school and is not privately funded.

Although we can do with a load of cash we all know that it is not readily available and with the current economy companies are not eager to give. You can eat an elephant in small chunks and that is why the ALD  is asking for itemized donations, such as second-hand shop fittings, cash registers, office furniture, tablets, computers, books, educational items, cooking ingredients and so the list goes on.

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Take this to heart: Anyone can make a difference for the good of the school; learners, parents, educators,  staff, communities and businesses  can tap fresh donor support, if they have the right messages rattling around in their heads at the right moment and they speak to the right people.