Dear Fellow Old Albanians and Friends of St Alban’s College,

By way of introduction, my name is Alistair and I graduated the college in 2003. Whilst I have not lived in South Africa for some time nor been involved in the affairs of the school, my time there occupies a special place in my heart almost entirely because my incredible peers and friends who made the school what it was. With that in mind and premised upon the importance of the fraternal bonds we created I write to you today.

Many of you would have received Mr Shane Kidwell’s letter to old Albanians on the 6th of July 2020; available here if you have not read it: https://bit.ly/2W59KNc

Whilst the letter is mostly innocuous it includes what I consider to be some rather disturbing content. The content in question is essentially an overview of three young men at the college whose parents are currently in financial difficulty. The overview is specific and highly detailed and includes the initials of the young men in question, below is an excerpt:

“Learner BW’ is a Form 4, Knoll boy. He is one of the top ten academic students of his Form with a 90% grade point average. In 2019 he was the top student in Physical Science, Geography and Life Sciences. BW’s father is currently awaiting the results of a possible retrenchment from an airline company that he has served for more than 15 years. The family also have frail elderly parents as dependents. Having paid the first term in full, BW needs only R170,700 to remain in St Alban’s College this year.”

Mr Shane Kidwell goes on to say:

“I would like to appeal to you to donate towards the school fees of these three boys by using the banking details below, and referencing your name and the initials of the boy whom you wish to support. All donors will receive a Tax Certificate issued in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act. Please rest assured that no amount will be too small and collectively we will be able to make contributions to the lives of three wonderful young men whom we are proud to call fellow Albanians.”

I find this disturbing for a no. of reasons, listed below:

1.     The amount of highly personal detail carried in this letter about these young men seems overly gratuitous. I could not possibly imagine the embarrassment they must feel knowing that their family’s private affairs have been so publicly broadcast.

2.     Shane Kidwell uses the words “to remain in St Albans College” implying that if donors are not found these boys will not remain in the college. Not only do I think this is highly unethical I am also perplexed as to how it is that the school has not been able to come to some arrangement before seeking donations, by way of example, wiping this debt as many company’s wipe bad debt. Moreover, there is no mention of what the school will do, by way of example, discounting these fees to cost etc.

3.     The school is no doubt aware that removing a learner is a complex matter in South Africa and thus one might perceive this plea as a means by which to simply recover some of what they are aware is a non-recoverable debt.

Whilst I find this entire matter highly distasteful, my core concern is the welfare of the young men in question

A such I have written to Mr Shane Kidwell outlining my distaste and have requested the school issues an apology and or retraction for this letter and much more importantly confirms to the community at large that the young men in question will at a minimum be allowed to finish the academic year without prejudice.

Sadly, I am yet to receive a response from him. Instead a member of the College Council has responded, and I can convey from the contents of this conversation that the school sees no impetus to act on my requests.

As such I am reaching out to you, the alumni to assist me in ensuring these young men may at a minimum finish their academic year in peace. If you feel as strongly about this matter as I do please feel free to add your voice to this petition.

Please do share with other alumni and or friends of St Albans College.

Yours Sincerely

Alistair Albers