From the rural areas of Mpumalanga, a teacher of Kwalodakada Primary School in Nkomazi West Circuit is representing South Africa at an educational seminar in Shanghai, China.
Nonjabulo Shabangu, a natural sciences teacher, was a provincial winner in the Mpumalanga Teachers’ Awards in 2022. She represented Mpumalanga and came second in the natural sciences category at the 2022 National Teaching Awards held in Pretoria.
According to the Department of Education (DoE), she was selected to represent the provincial department in China. She left the county on July 9 and will return on August 1.
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“It is a great honour and privilege to be here as a representative of not only Mpumalanga, but South Africa at large. It is an incredible experience, a personal growth and professional development opportunity. China is a very beautiful country, highly populated, but able to cultivate global citizens who realise global peace, and it has established economic development for the population. Education is a priority in China, and its government ensures it remains the most respected profession. The citizens are so responsible, respectful and peaceful, and take environmental protection seriously,” she said.
Shabangu said she has gained a lot of insight from the seminar so far, and plans to share this with her colleagues and community.
“We can learn from the Chinese community about good morals, values and culture. If we could master the ‘teach a man to fish’ saying as a country, we would really go far. It is a process, but implemented, it can be effective in a way.”
Shabangu told Mpumalanga News that the seminar is about comprehensive measures for rural teachers from developing countries. “We have attended lectures that are more interactive and collaborative.
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“We are looking into the education systems of various countries, particularly developing ones. We have looked into quality of education for all and the Education Agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals, an overview of China’s development and transformation, effective strategies for rural school provision and China’s strategies,” she said.
This 35-year-old has been working with the provincial DoE for 11 years. “I started working at Alex M Mampana Primary School in January 2012. I transferred to Schoemansdal Combined School in January 2014, where I taught natural sciences for Grade Six and Eight for three years. I relocated to Matsafeni Primary School in KaMhlushwa, where I worked just for a year, and then got a promotion at Kwalodakada Primary School as a departmental head.”
The Mpumalanga DoE said it wished her all the best as she carries South Africa and Mpumalanga on her shoulders at the education seminar.
