- Partnership Between UFH and Yellowwoods Preparatory School: The University of Fort Hare has formalized a partnership with Yellowwoods Preparatory School to support staff with children, making the Alice campus more family-friendly and addressing relocation challenges.
- Goals of the MoU: The MoU aims to facilitate enrolment, transport, and better integration of staff members’ children into the Yellowwoods school community, ensuring access to quality education.
- Background and Motivation: The partnership was inspired by the university’s recognition of the need for reliable local schooling options, highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor’s personal experience with relocation difficulties.
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yellowwoods Preparatory School to help make the Alice campus more family-friendly for professionals relocating with young children.
Signed on 5 August 2025 by UFH Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, and Yellowwoods Principal, Mrs Julie Sparks, the agreement provides a structured partnership to support the enrolment, transport, and integration of staff members’ children into the Yellowwoods school community.
Professor Buhlungu described the partnership as a long-overdue step toward improving the quality of life for academic staff. “When I moved to Alice, I experienced the difficulty of finding a good school nearby for my child. That challenge highlighted the need for a reliable, quality education option close to campus,” he said.
The MoU directly addresses one of the key barriers that professionals face when relocating to Alice: access to primary schooling for their children. It formalises an existing informal relationship, as 19 UFH staff families already have children attending Yellowwoods.
Mrs Sparks welcomed the agreement, stating that it provides continuity and signals further growth. “Formalising our partnership ensures continuity and encourages growth,” she said.
Before the signing, the Vice-Chancellor and a delegation from the university toured Yellowwoods Preparatory School, guided by Mrs Sparks. The school, founded in 1994, is located between Fort Beaufort and Adelaide on the grounds of the former Yellowwoods Hotel. It offers education from 18 months to Grade 7 and is affiliated with the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA).
Classes are taught in English, with a choice between isiXhosa or Afrikaans from Grade 4. The school prides itself on small class sizes, a teacher-to-learner ratio of 1:18, and a CAPS curriculum enriched with art, music, coding, sports, horse riding, and project-based learning, all within a Christian values-based setting.
The idea for a formal partnership was sparked when Professor Buhlungu noticed a Yellowwoods school bus parked on university premises. Upon enquiry, he learned it was part of an informal arrangement to transport children of UFH academics. His office then facilitated discussions to formalise the collaboration, which now includes designated undercover parking for the school bus on UFH property.
The agreement will remain valid for five years, with annual reviews to address changing needs or capacities. While non-binding, the MoU represents a clear and mutual commitment to cooperation and development.
“This partnership forms part of our larger mission to make the Alice campus a place where young professionals and their families can thrive,” said Professor Buhlungu.
