Niekie’s personal interest is clear. “The whole curriculum is on computer plus every module and every test.” In addition to the 15 computers in the computer centre, there is one in every classroom networked for the teacher to feed in points scored on the computerised maths programme. “Our best score so far is 205 sums in six minutes.” Niekie flashes a huge Karoo smile and his cheeks burst with both pride and sun. “We’ve got some of the best educators in the vicinity,” he says.

One of them helped establish the school library, where learners now take out about 500 books a week. Penny Biggs, who has helped hundreds of young people to love to read over the past 12 years, has retired. She started part-time at the Trust, covering books. Back then, there was no library. Books were classified by class and Penny moved from classroom to classroom with her collection. Vuyokazi Katise, an ex-pupil of the school, has been appointed Librarian