An individual deemed “vibrant and innovative” has been appointed as the principal of the Welkom Academy of Excellence.
Rufus Pillay originally hails from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and comes to Welkom with a solid foundation of over 24 years in education.
He is committed to fostering a healthy school culture of learning in which learners are inspired and confident in their abilities.
He has a proven track record of strong leadership skills and is confident in his role to help the Welkom Academy of Excellence, which falls under the EduLife Group, continue to deliver teaching excellence.
Pillay matriculated from the Witteklip Secondary School in Chatsworth in 1994, and studied BA Education and BComm at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) from 1995 to 2003.
Pillay has been teaching Mathematics, Physical Science and English for 24 years. He worked at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for 22 years. He then taught in Johannesburg for five years, where he was the head of academics.
He sees his move to Welkom as a new experience and a new adventure.
“My focus at the academy in Welkom will be on academics. I want to take my career to a new level,” says Pillay.
Outside the classroom, he is passionate about animal rescue. The plight of cats lies especially close to his heart.
His furry friend is Musi Anne Pillay, and she jealously guards his “home time”.
Pillay is currently studying towards BEd Honours through the University of South Africa (Unisa). His focus is on curricular and educational management.
