HOD retires after 40 years in education

WYEBANK Secondary School bid farewell to head of department, Suriakanthi Pather (62), who retired after 40 years in education last month.

Pather first started her education career, teaching Afrikaans at Chatsworth Secondary School in 1975. She taught at the school for 15 years before her family relocated to Wyebank.

She then joined Wyebank Secondary School in 1989 as a guidance counsellor before moving on to teach life orientation.

She described the highlight of her teaching career, a tour to New York with the school’s debating team in 2008 to participate in the International Model Debating Championships. Wyebank Secondary School won the championships that year.

Her message to her pupils before she left was to focus on their studies to achieve their goals. She also wished the current matric pupils all the best for the exams.

Pather thanked school principal, Dr Satish Govender, and staff for their guidance through the years, and her husband and children for their supportive role in her career.

Her plans for retirement include travelling overseas, then working at an orphanage in Hillcrest while still offering her services to the school whenever they need her.