Pretoria Boys High School was proud to host the 2026 APBSA Headmasters Conference, welcoming 23 Headmasters from public boys’ schools across South Africa to the School on the Hill.
Held under the theme “It’s Time – Building Legacy for Boys’ Education”, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for school leaders to come together, exchange ideas and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of boys’ education in South Africa.
Over four days, the programme explored a wide range of issues shaping education and leadership, from technology and artificial intelligence to the changing needs of learners and teachers.
Day Three featured a series of thought-provoking presentations addressing some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing boys’ education. Mr Pravashen Pillay of the Gordon Institute of Business Science spoke on leading for a multigenerational, AI-driven workforce, while Mr Kyle Gaunt of VERITI explored how technology can be leveraged to create connected campuses and support holistic education.
Dr Ria van Zyl and Mrs Lizette Carstens shared insights into what makes Emeris a compelling option for both boys and teachers, before Prof. Anné Verhoef of North-West University led sessions examining the future of artificial intelligence, its ethical use and the important role schools play in guiding young people to engage responsibly with emerging technologies.
The conference continued to provide opportunities for reflection, discussion and collaboration, with Headmasters considering how schools can prepare boys not only for the world they inhabit today, but for the rapidly changing world they will inherit tomorrow.
On Day Four, the Headmasters were honoured to welcome Ms Sivive Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, who addressed delegates on matters relating to education in South Africa.
The conference concluded in the historic Honours Hall of Solomon House, where Justice Edwin Cameron delivered the closing address. His contribution provided a fitting conclusion to four days of valuable engagement and discussion centred on the future of boys’ education and the responsibility of schools to build a lasting legacy.
Hosting the APBSA Headmasters Conference was a privilege for Pretoria Boys High School and an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between South Africa’s public boys’ schools. The conference reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, innovation and shared purpose as schools work together to ensure that boys receive an education that equips them to lead with courage, integrity and purpose.
As PBHS celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026, the conference theme of building legacy held particular significance. It was a timely reminder that the legacy of a school is not simply found in its buildings or traditions, but in the generations of young men it prepares to make a meaningful contribution to society.
