INTERNATONAL ENGLISH SCHOOL THE
International School in Cape Town

It is available for the use of both students and staff. There are also various exercise machines and other equipment, such as treadmills and exercise bicycles for cardiovascular workouts. The history of Seventh-day Adventist education in South Africa began in 1893 with the establishment of Claremont Union College, Cape Town. Staff and students transferred to the new site and classes began in 1919 with an enrolment of Two three-year courses, a Training Course and Normal Course, were developed. When the college was advanced to the status of a junior college, major changes in academic offerings included the introduction of a one-year course in Shorthand, a two-year Normal Course (teacher training), and a four-year course resembling the classical course originally offered at Union College. The latter did not get much support and by 1923 all courses were two years in length: the Theological Course, Bible Workers' Course, Teacher Training Course and Commercial Course. It is interesting to note the swing in emphasis between the two colleges: the majority of the 31 graduates from Union College were teachers, while from Spion Kop the majority of the 30 graduates were from the Theology and Bible Workers' courses. The academic growth of the College can be viewed from three perspectives: the course offerings, academic qualifications of staff, and library holdings. The first real major change in curriculum came in 1951 when the College became a senior college and, under the guidance of A J Raitt, started to offer the degree courses of the University of South Africa (UNISA) as part of the regular four-year diploma courses. Students could complete the requirements of the BA, BSc and BCom degrees within the four years. From this initial agreement, the affiliation was extended to the BA degree which could also include a four-year elementary teaching qualification. The programme was spread over four years with a quarter being taught each year. From the start, the College has had well-qualified staff. The first teacher with a doctorate was H L Rasmussen who joined the staff in 1947 to teach history. The offering of UNISA degrees on campus made it easier for a number of the staff to earn BA degrees and in many cases this led to post-graduate work. The harmonious development of all the student's abilities, including his or her physical wellbeing, has been the basis for the work programme in the history of Helderberg College. A great deal of building was done and so students were involved in brickmaking, carpentry, and building construction. In addition there were particular enterprises to provide work for the students and an income for the College, such as the clothing factory in which some fourteen students worked. The work activities have changed over the years, but it is still possible for a student to be exposed to a wide variety of activities, should he or she so choose. However, exposure to practical work experience on or off campus is an integral part of the student's preparation for graduation. Through their work experiences on campus, many students have gained skills that have helped them contribute to building communities wherever they have gone. For a number of years the Faculty of Business Studies has formed the Business Exposure Club, which provided a forum for involvement with students in other institutions. The SRC (Student Representative Council) liaises between students and the College administration and arranges numerous student activities like annual camps, sports and social programmes.