Thembelitsha Primary School (often spelt Tembelitsha) in Concordia, was established in 1957,has been the only primary serving this black community and it is situated in a poverty-stricken area.
Since 1990 Thembelitsha has been the feeder-school to Percy Mdala High School. Prior to that the children had to journey to a school in George. The Principal Gertrude Maki and her staff do their best to assist the learners, many who sometimes come to school without having had anything to eat or wear. School attendance frequently drops in winter, or during bad weather, due to the very wet conditions. The students live in shacks which are just temporary structures, so rain water soaks everything inside the house.
There are 22 educators with 883 Learners starting from grade 1 to grade 7. Gertrude has been serving as the first lady principal after having five male principals. Tembelitsha students receive a 60% pass in grade 7.
In 2001 Chris Nissen was established by 12 educators and 550 learners from Tembelitsha, making them the mother school in this area. Learners are often admitted from as far afield as the Eastern Cape, as their parents have to come to Knysna to find employment.
