Passion for Art breeds creativity
Its is not every student that will become an engineer or a doctors, other their wealth lies in their hands, through art.
Drawings, brightly-coloured collages, clay work and various artworks of different styles hang on the walls of the classroom, along with hand-made bags. These are the efforts of the Grade 5 to Grade 7 Creative Arts learners of Amakh’emfundo Primary School.
The respectful and humble Mrs NC Maluleka is the lady behind the subject, who inspires her learners to greater creative heights.She has been a teacher for more than 20 years, and year in and year out she makes sure that her students never forget her name.
Teaching is not just a job but a passion, as Mrs Maluleka goes beyond what is expected of her to forge lasting relationships with her students. To some she is a mother figure, and to others a mentor and role model. It is no burden to her to put in extra effort and assist the students in every way.
She is one of the educators who manages to bring the school together; in her case through art. She is also a pianist, and enjoys making artwork using waste materials. “The greatest aspect about art is that it can come from ‘rubbish’ – one does not have to spend much money to produce magnificent work. It is all in the students’ hands, and knowing their colours,” she explains with a warm smile.She says this is the ‘verse’ she preaches to her students: to make use of things that people do not need to produce art.
Her students’ work is the embodiment of what a loving and caring person she is. The work they produce is an indication that they learn Creative Arts from one of the most passionate artists in the area. With dedication they learn the practical application of the subject, and they give their all to produce the best that they can. Mrs Maluleka’s students explained that the Creative Arts subject brightens their lives, and they take joy from their creative efforts.
Mrs Maluleka says the secret to being good at the job is to prepare for her lessons, which ‘makes it easier for me to teach and interact with my students’, she says. She further explained that the learners are encouraged to get their hands dirty – whether with mud, soil or clay – ‘and I set a good example by doing the same’.
She wishes that high schools could also broaden students’ knowledge of art, taking the subject to greater heights, ‘because not all students will be engineers and doctors’: “Other students’ wealth lies in their hands. The little artistic knowledge received at primary schools should be broadened at high school level to make it easier for them to choose careers that are suitable for them,” she added.
