Local teacher now a ‘power speaker’ at international conferences
Asked about his experience in Dubai, United Arab Emirates - a desert country with a high-tech infrastructure - Dr Khumalo said water was supplied directly from the sea via desalination. "This is certainly an option in South Africa where the drought – the worse one in years – has impacted on all.
A local high school teacher with a doctorate under his belt has established himself as an international figure, an educator and researcher pioneering innovative thinking.
Dr Bongani Khumalo, who lives in Dundee and teaches at a rural school in the Dannhauser area, last year attended an international conference in Dubai where he delivered a research paper entitled, ‘Water and Sanitation as perceived by educators and other stakeholders on learners’ performance in South African schools’.
“I was accompanied by my team from the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria to present papers at the 18th Annual International Conference hosted by the Global Business and Technology Association last October,” Dr Khumalo told the Courier. “There were representatives from around 42 countries at this conference so it was a very powerful and an exciting place to be.”
His conclusions are that with the proper use of water resources and good infrastructure, learners will perform better. “Adequate water (supply) and basic sanitation are an integral part of learning and teaching – and these components need to be properly managed. We must especially think of girls whose schooling is often compromised due to a lack of sanitary pads and in rural schools this equates to absenteeism.”
In 2015 he was invited to do presentations in Portugal and is certain that the world has not heard the last from this home-grown academic.
Asked about his experience in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – a desert country with a high-tech infrastructure – Dr Khumalo said water was supplied directly from the sea via desalination. “This is certainly an option in South Africa where the drought – the worse one in years – has impacted on all.
“With technology racing ahead, it is something we must seriously consider.”
A product of Thalana High School (and he is quick to credit former principal, Dr Bheki Sikhakane, for his encouragement), Dr Khumalo has been in education for 25 years, teaching at schools in Nquthu and Dannhauser. He completed his doctorate in education but says ‘research is in my blood’. His research articles have been published and he is a recognised speaker at many international conferences. In 2015 he was invited to do presentations in Portugal and is certain that the world has not heard the last from this home-grown academic.
