Abbotts College celebrates World Teachers’ Day
NORTHCLIFF- UNESCO inaugurated 5 October as World Teachers' Day. World Teachers' Day represents a significant effort to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development across the globe.
Teachers shape the life dreams of future generations and through them, curiosity is stimulated and shaped into reality. Most teachers are dedicated men and women of honour who plant and wait not for the seeds to germinate, but start irrigating with praises for they believe in everyone’s potential.
As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day on 5 October, Abbotts College celebrates two teachers that have made a difference in the school.
According to Christelle Wolmarans, representative of Abbotts College, life science teacher Nicole du Plooy is a passionate teacher who goes out of her way to make lessons interesting and relevant. Her passion – to embark on a life-changing mission to try and make a difference in the environment – makes her a perfect life science teacher. She has many innovative and creative ideas that are reflected in the CSI projects she runs.
In 2013, Du Plooy started a Green Club and currently has 30 students who invest as much time and energy to help better the environment as she does. “She is our inspiration,” says the College Green Club.
“I am a teacher because I am passionate about children and love seeing pupils grow and get transformed,” says du Plooy.
“Nothing can replace a good teacher. Teachers’ professional knowledge and skills are the most important factor for quality education,” says Hazel Jacobs a parent of two high school pupils.
Dr Raïta Steyn teaches design and visual art and has played a huge role in transforming pupils lives.
“Raïta is a passionate design and visual art teacher. She spends a lot of time at school with her students after hours to ensure that they develop their full potential and deliver work that reflects their true ability,” says Wolmarans.
Dr Steyn says her most memorable project with her pupils is a recent project.
“Residents of Gibson Street in Sophiatown hired a guard to watch their street and my pupils designed a logo for the residents and named it ‘Gibson whistle blowers’. All the houses that contribute have put the sign up which made the students happy,”comments Dr Steyn.
Although these teachers enjoy their work, they say teaching comes with challenges.
“Changing the mindset of a child, for example, to keep the planet clean are some of the problems we face,” says Dr Steyn.
Du Plooy, on the other hand, says absenteeism, late coming and bullying are additional challenges teachers come across.
