“I am truly honoured to have put myself and my school on the map,” said Ms Patience Mndebele after receiving the award for the best subject teacher in Mpumalanga.
Patience was announced the best Geography educator in the province after last year’s final exams in which all her learners passed the subject.
With ambitions of becoming a doctor, but not well guided and not receiving proper career guidance, she found herself enrolling for teaching at the University of Zululand. She later enrolled with Stellenbosch University for a diploma in managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace, among other qualifications she has.
The mother of two concedes that her parents wanted her to be a teacher, which she does not regret.
“My first teaching job was in Vryheid at the Filidi Secondary School in 1992 where I taught isiZulu for 10 years after which I relocated to Ermelo. I joined Lindile Secondary School where I taught Geography and Social Sciences for two years,” said Ms Mndebele.
In 2013, she was appointed as deputy principal At Reggie Masuku Secondary, but continued teaching Geography.
With her 24 years’ teaching experience of which she has spent 13 teaching Geography, Patience says this was the first time she has received an award in recognition of her hard work.
The Best Teacher in Mpumalanga award recognised her for the matric results where all her learners passed the subject, 94% of them achieving above 50% and six obtaining distinctions.
Ms Mndebele also recalled when she turned down a post with the Department of Education, because it was office-based and she wanted to develop and do more for the learners, because of her passion for the subject and the children.
“I’m really proud of myself and my school that despite challenges we managed to achieve this milestone with what we have within this community where most of our learners are from a disadvantaged background,” she said.
When asked about her plans for the current crop of learners, she said she will continue giving her all to the learners and do all she can for them to maintain their good results as a school.
She also attributed her achievement to the teamwork and outstanding leadership by the school’s management team which makes the environment conducive to teaching and learning, referring to last year’s 90% achievement for the school.
“I also cherish the fact that I have a very strong support structure at home where my husband, who is also an educator, supports me, even when I have to leave my family behind and attend extra classes, including holiday classes with my learners,” Ms Mndebele said.
School principal Mr M.S. Mahlambi said they are very proud of Ms Mndebele as a school and would rally behind her to achieve the same results.
“She’s been achieving 100% results for the past three years and we will do everything to assist her in maintaining the good run,”said Mr Mahlambi.
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