The DSP is an excellent German school abroad that prepares its learners for a global future. The German Educational Model The German educational model places emphasis on developing independence in children, encourages critical thinking, supports children taking ownership for their learning process, and accentuates the development of creative problem-solving skills. Another characteristic of German schools is that the learners usually stay in the same groups as they go through the grades. This creates a community much like one experiences as an adult – and requires learning how to support and encourage each other, how to deal with differences between individuals, and establishes a strong bond that carries through the years at school and beyond.
Our curriculum The DSP follows German and South African curricula: German and English are taught as mother tongue and as a foreign language. Non-German speaking learners have entry opportunities in the Kindergarten, Pre-School as well as Grade 1 and Grade 5. Further languages from Grade 6: Afrikaans and French Mathematics, Science as well as Social Sciences are compulsory subjects for the “Abitur”.
Our approach to learning At Crèche (from 3 months) and in the Kindergarten, children are guided and supported by qualified educators who approach their work holistically. The Kindergarten works closely with the Primary School to enable a successful transition from Kindergarten to Pre-School. Modern teaching methods are used throughout. Subject teachers lay the foundation for languages, natural sciences and social sciences and further develop these. Sport and musicalartistic subjects contribute significantly to developing wellrounded individuals. Our extensive extra-curricular activities support the maturation of young people and give them room to develop. At Primary School the learners’ proficiency in their foreign language (English or German) is improved to enable them to cope with the language at a second language level. In the Secondary School I (Grades 5 – 9) there is close cooperation with the educators in the German and English speaking classes through joint teaching of subjects or integrated learning groups. In the German classes the Secondary School I can be completed with a school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German “Hauptschulabschluss” (Grade 9) or “Realschulabschluss” (Grade 10). At the end of Grade 9, in view of the Secondary School II (Grade 10 – 12) learners decide whether they want to follow the Kombiabitur or the NSC Programme. In the NSC, learners are prepared in the English medium for the NSC examination as set by the Independent Examination Board. The NSC examination is the central South African school leaving examination after Grade 12. At the DSP, it can be supplemented by the German Language Diploma (DSD II). The NSC in combination with the DSD II qualify a learner to study in Germany. The language of tuition in the Kombiabitur is mainly German and affords learners a dual school leaving certificate (the German International “Abitur” and the NSC).
Who attends the DSP? At our School of Encounter, young people of different socioeconomic backgrounds and of all population groups in South Africa meet with children from Germany, Europe and other parts of the world. Our learners are open-minded and inquisitive young people who are equipped to respond to today’s challenges. Multilingualism and multicultural education broaden intellectual, cultural and social horizons. It is not only an investment in your child’s academic and professional future but an investment in their personal development. We offer assistance to non-German speaking families with our support program to enable the education of non-German learners at our school.
