Thuthukani Special School is a special place in a corner of the sugarcane, just outside of Empangeni. Thuthukani is a Zulu word meaning “Progress” or “Moving forward”, and the word under our emblem “Mawukhanye” means “to let your light shine”. These visible words on our logo are a summary of the vision that we all share.
At Thuthukani we all strive to use the most current and suited educational tools to present the National Curriculum Statement. We make the tools functional and applicable to each learner, helping our children to move forward and allowing their lights to shine.
Originally the CLASSIC was developed and used as a tool to access the curriculum. Now by implementing CAPS Gr R to 5 for learners with Severe Intellectual Disability, and the Learning Plan for learners with Profound Intellectual Disability, our learners with intellectual disability are educated to their full potential. The challenges and rewards offered at the school ensure that each learner benefits from continuous holistic teaching, learning and development. We focus on inclusion, allowing our learners to have many diverse life experiences. Because they remain a part of the local community, they are better able to cope with the demands of life in society.
At Thuthukani we strive to meet the needs of the child with intellectual disability within his family and the greater community. At Thuthukani we educate children with intellectual disability to be as independent as possible in their communities. Once they have completed their education, some have an opportunity to work in sheltered employment, some undergo training in a job that has a chance of generating an income or assistance to the child’s family, and some of our learners go home to live with their families as independently as they can within the family unit.
As a school, we are proud of our achievements, and we have gained recognition for the work we do for the people with intellectual disability. Our expertise is acknowledged locally, nationally and internationally. We have three recipients of the Paul Harris Fellowship award: our founder – Joanna James, Marthie Combrinck (Principal) and Tanya Girvin. (The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is a Rotary International Award.) In 2016, 2022, 2023 we entered the National Teaching Awards competition and achieved great success up to the Provincial level. In 2025, Marthie Combrinck won the National Section on Special School Leadership. Two of our learners have represented our country at Special Olympics World Games, and one of our occupational therapists has been selected to coach children with various disabilities at these Olympics. Our school has participated in many research projects aimed at improving the lives of children with disabilities, and recently one of our learners and a teacher represented South Africa at a conference in Vietnam. Thuthukani receives recognition from the Department of Education on a regular basis, for various programs offered to our learners.
In 2020, our whole school community agreed to change our motto from “a Special Place for Special Kids” to “Changing Lives”. This is in line with our school’s focus on the empowerment of the children with intellectual disability who are enrolled at our school, their families and their communities.
But at the end of the day…
Thuthukani Special School offers quality, custom-made education for learners with intellectual disability in Zululand, and every day we help these learners take a step towards independence. I am proud to be a part of this community.
Tanya Girvin
PRO.