Mfanafuthi Nkosi believes in dedication, hard work and faith in the Lord.
This, he says, is what the driving force was behind his recent accomplishments as a physical science educator.
At the 19th Annual National Teaching Awards, the Panorama Combined School educator received the award for Excellence in Physical Science.
To his amazement, that was not the only surprise on the day; along with his award certificate he also won himself a brand new car!
In an interview with the Newcastle Advertiser, Nkosi spoke about the journey that has brought him to this point in his career.
“It all began in June last year, when I entered the district competition with the support and encouragement from my principal, Mr Mthethwa ,” he says.
“We were given an assignment to design a presentation on the topic of physical science.”
After winning at a district level, Nkosi qualified to compete at the regional competition, and it was no surprise that he came out on top.
This win secured his place at the provincial round held in Durban in September 2018, where he went up against teachers from around the country.
He once again took first position and ultimately won the award for Excellence in Physical Science.
“The national round was intense, as I faced a panel of 10 judges,” he said.
Nkosi says Mr Mthethwa prepared him well and his confidence gave him the edge to win.
Reflecting on his teaching career, Nkosi majored in geology which he studied at a tertiary level and obtained his first degree.
“It’s a funny story actually, because the physics teacher was on maternity leave and I was the replacement. Once she returned, another post became available and I applied for it,” says Nkosi.
He has never looked back and has been teaching physical science for three years.
“In 2018, it was the first time I taught a Grade 12 class and I am proud to say our overall pass mark for the subject in December was 93 per cent.”
Nkosi’s teaching ethos stems from his passion for understanding the technologically-savvy generation of learners, known as Generation Z.
“This generation can operate a cellphone from their formative years and I feel it is imperative to keep up with the times and teach in a way the learners can understand.”
Nkosi uses WhatsApp Groups to communicate with his learners and even teaches after hours and when he is out of town through an App, by conducting a virtual meeting where he shares learning material and guidelines to aid the learners.
He also helps learners after hours and over weekends in an effort to get them to grasp the subject.
“My wife is my biggest supporter, along with my five-year-old daughter, Princess. There are days when my house is full of learners and I’m thankful my wife is understanding,” he says with a laugh.
The most rewarding part of Nkosi’s job he explains, is when a child achieves the marks they thought were impossible at the beginning.
“To teachers: have a positive attitude towards learners and treat each one individually to identify any learning problems. To learners: I believe in excellence; whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability. Do your best and God will do the rest,” concludes Nkosi.
ALSO READ: Teacher puts down her chalk after 40 years
Contact us
WhatsApp: 082 874 5550
Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
Make sure you follow us for constant updates:
