A brief history of Cemal Karacan Star College: Excellence in education
Horizon Educational trust (No I TRUST 11837/98), founded in 1998, has played a significant and extensive role in fostering a good relationship between South Africa and Turkey in the educational, cultural and social fields. HET’s 1st project was Star International School in Cape Town and the 2nd was Horizon High School in Johannesburg.
On the 26 January 2002, Horizon Educational Trust officially declared its third school (Star Primary and High School in Durban, South Africa) open. At that time, Star Primary and High School had a learner population of just 20 with 16 learners in Grade 8 and the rest (4) in Grade 1. The first principal of the institution was Mr. Yasar Yesilyurt who was also the Regional Director of HET in KZN. It was his dedication and diligence that guided Star Primary and High School through the difficulties of its fledgling year.
In 2004, the name of the school was changed to STAR COLLEGE and a new logo that encapsulated the ethos of the school was unveiled. ‘Akil, Beden, Ruh’ (Mind, Body and Soul) was the slogan which is finding its way to the lips of many people.
The second principal of the institution was Mr. Faruk Turkmen (2003-2008) who worked very hard to make Star College as one of the best and well-established school in KZN.
Our third principal, Mr Ilhami Demirtas (2009 – 2012), had a mammoth task ahead of him, as in April 2009, STAR COLLEGE was humbled and awed by the generous sponsorship from Mr. Abdullah Karacan, which made it possible for us to build a new school consisting of 28 classrooms. After the inauguration of the new school on 26 March 2010 amid much pomp and circumstance, our school is now named after Mr. Abdullah Karacan’s father as CEMAL KARACAN STAR COLLEGE.
The school’s tradition of academic excellence began with its first crop of matriculants in the year 2005. The class of 2005 achieved 100% pass rate, 100% university pass and 100% merit pass. In addition, a staggering 78% of the learners achieved ‘A’ aggregates and the average number of distinctions per learner was 3.44.
Over the years Cemal Karacan Star College has been receiving accolades by the truck-load and competing successfully in Maths, Science and Computer Olympiads as far afield as Benin, Germany, Romania, India, Turkey USA, Korea, Nigeria, China etc.
In 2009, the college was awarded BEST PERFORMING SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA in Maths and Science Olympiad and at the same time, the matriculants did achieve 100% pass rate since 2005.
In 2010, 2011 and 2012 Star College still boasts its 100% Academic Pass with Matric distinction rates of 3.3, 4.7 and 3.8. In 2013 the matrics achieved 4.63 distinctions per learner and continued with the 100% Academic Pass Rate!
This institution has seen many changes and are relocated to new and more beautiful premises. Yet some things will remain constant. Cemal Karacan Star College will remain committed to empowering learners (especially from historically disadvantaged backgrounds) to achieve their goals and realize their potential through HOLISTIC APPROACH, UNIVERSAL VALUES and QUALITY EDUCATION. As many a graduate of this fine school will say of their alma mater, “After graduating from Star, even the sky is not the limit.’
