(S. Africa) Kouga region opens first special school; "growing need"
- The end of childhood
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Dec 11, 2025, South Africa: Kouga region welcomes first registered special needs school in Humansdorp
HUMANSDORP – The Kouga region has welcomed its first registered special needs school, with Metanoia Elim School, an independent and private school, opening its doors in Humansdorp to learners with specialised educational needs.
Darné Jonker, campus owner and director, said that Metanoia Elim School was the first private special needs school in the Kouga region to be registered with the Department of Education.
She said that while there were many schools in Kouga, there was a growing need for registered special needs schools to cater for those who require alternative schooling options. . . .
The first campus for the Eastern Cape was established in Gqeberha in 2019 and has since expanded alongside the communities’ needs in both the Eastern and Western Cape.
The newest campus opened in Humansdorp, Kouga. . . .
The school operates through a comprehensive three-phase development strategy.
Phase One focuses on the Pre-Primary and Primary School for learners aged four years and above.
This phase provides specialised support within small classroom settings of fewer than eight learners, offering both Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement adapted for learners with Special Educational Needs (CAPS SEN) and Differentiated Curriculum for Special Needs Pupils South Africa (DCAPS), which provides learners with more time to reach their academic milestones. . . .
The vision extends to Phase Three, which plans to establish assisted living housing projects.
“We want to establish Phase Three at a later stage, which will be assisted living for learners aged 18 years and above, where young adults can easily access their skills industry and workforce opportunities whilst still having that extra physical and emotional support needed to lead completely fulfilled lives. It is important for us to have a long-term plan and a future for our learners, one that empowers them to contribute positively to their community and hold a place in our society as adults,” said Jonker. . . .
The school currently serves 24 learners registered for 2026 from across the region, including learners from Patensie, Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, and St Francis Bay.
Jonker said that the idea to establish Metanoia in the Kouga area to cater for growing demand gained momentum after a parent from Jeffreys Bay contacted the organisation and helped open a branch in the region.
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