Ons Storie
Jan Kriel, 'n predikantseun van Kuilsrivier, sterf in 1925 as 16-jarige weens 'n epileptiese aanval. Sy ouers, en veral Mev. Kriel, word aangespoor deur hul hartseer om die merkwaardige onderneming op die been te bring.
Die Pioniersfase: 1937 - 1941
Mevrou Kriel het al haar energie en tyd bestee om ondersteuners en fondse bymekaar te maak om haar doelwit te bereik. In 1937 word 'n skooltjie begin met 4 kinders, in 'n perdestal van alle plekke! Op hierdie stadium was dit pure pionierswerk, gedra deur 'n groep vriende. Die Ou Pastorie (vir meisies), buitegeboue (vir seuns) en 'n perdestal (as eerste klaskamer) op die plaas Elim getuig van 'n beskeie begin. Weltevreden, die plaas langsaan, word later aangekoop, aangesien die getalle begin toeneem het.
'n Gunstige groeifase: 1942 en daarna
Onderhoudskostes neem skerp toe en veroorsaak dat die sinode van die NG Kerk, wat alreeds skole vir dowes en blindes op Worcester begin het, die onderneming in 1942 oorneem. Die versorging van kinders met epilepsie word beskou as 'n natuurlike uitvloeisel van Christelike barmhartigheid. In Lukas 9 lees ons van Jesus wat die seun met epilepsie gesond aan sy pa teruggegee het. Sedert 1946 het 'n jaarlikse sinodale deurkollekte vir Jan Kriel, gehou by alle NG gemeentes, hul verseker van 'n gereelde inkomste.
Die Vereniging vir die vriende van die epileptiese kind word in 1947 gestig en die eerste jaarblad oor Jan Kriel word uitgegee. So word die skool bekend regoor die land en meer en meer mense begin betrokke raak.
Van versorging tot opleiding: 1946 - 1971
Mnr. Willem Barnard, skoolhoof vanaf 1946, het deur harde werk Jan Kriel as inrigting omgeskakel na Jan Kriel as skool. Diegene wat nie geskik was vir hierdie skool nie is geleidelik oorgeplaas na ander instellings. Die nasorgsentrum het ook gedurende hierdie stadium tot stand gekom.
In 1950 slaag die eerste 2 Jan Krielers matriek. Daar was toe reeds 92 leerders in die skool en in 1957 reeds 125. Dit was die enigste skool in Suid-Afrika vir kinders met epilepsie, en daarom is verskeie koshuise en ander fasiliteite gebou.
Jan Kriel het op hierdie stadium wêreldbekend geword vir hul navorsing, kundigheid en baanbrekerswerk op hul gebied. Mnr Barnard het na sy aftrede in 1971 met 'n spesialiseringskursus in buitengewone onderwys aan UNISA begin.
An expanding phase: 1971– 1997
Dr Louis Raubenheimer was appointed principal in 1972. With his passion and vision Jan Kriel expanded from a school for children with epilepsy to a school for learners with special educational needs.
The availability of specialised staff (psychologists, therapists, medical personnel and remedial teachers) and remarkable teaching techniques made Jan Kriel a resort for learners with other disabilities. Especially in the field of evasion techniques for learners with dyslexia, remarkable pioneering work was done.
Learner numbers increased dramatically from 196 in 1978 to 326 in 1985 abd 523 in 2003. Currently approximately 530 learners are enrolled at Jan Kriel. This rise in numbers led to increasing financial responsibilities and in 1992 Rev Francois Cillie was appointed Director of Development to focus exclusively on this matter.
A new era: 1997 and beyond
With all the changes occuring in South Africa, as well as new education legislation, parents became responsible for managing schools. This deeply affected Jan Kriel. Without warning the automatic protection of the church and its interests (by the state) became something of the past.
Our learners’ needs and the care we provide, however, have not changed one bit. The dream of Mrs Kriel still lives on today as it did before, now in the Jan Kriel Institute. More than ever before it is our challenge to ensure the future existence of this wonderful service to special children.
From now on we will have to be increasingly dependent on the open hearts and hands of caring individuals who also share our dream.