World Teacher’s Day is slowly approaching and those in the education profession will be shown appreciation for their hard work in shaping the minds of young and old.
Celebrated on October 5, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had set aside the day to raise awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the contribution that teachers make to education and development across the globe.
The Herald spoke to Rosemary Mazibuko who is a teacher and Deputy Principal at FJL Wells Primary Mine School in Bhongweni, to find out what the day means to her.
She has been in the profession for 20 years and has many more to go.
“Teaching has been a beautiful experience with its fair share of challenges. I initially didn’t want to be a teacher. I was studying towards becoming a nurse and then I dropped out because I thought it was not my thing. I then went for teaching and that’s when I realised that it was the job I really loved.
I love working with children and although they give us challenges sometimes, we love them and we treat them like our children,” said Mazibuko who detailed her bitter-sweet experience in her 20 years of teaching.
She studied at the Sebokeng College of Education from 1995 till 1998 and started teaching shortly thereafter.
She then went to further her studies at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) where she did her Advanced Certification in Education for Mathematics and Science.
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She said her trick to make sure that her learners understand and enjoy the subjects that she teaches is to do practicals with them, therefore her method of teaching is engaging and achieves the desired results.
Describing a day in the life of a teacher, Mazibuko said teaching had become challenging over the years but she still loved the profession nonetheless.
A lot has changed over the years. Teaching used to be fun and we used to look forward to going to school, but these days things have changed.
“We are disrespected by the learners. Some will talk back at their teachers but there are many who are still well behaved,” said Mazibuko who added that that has not deterred her from doing what she loves the most.
Asked about the significance of a teacher in society, Mazibuko said although it may be a cliche, all the professions come from a teacher.
Teachers are very significant in society and are able to shape young minds. It may have been said before but every profession is produced through the hands of a teacher.”
It gives her pride to know that she has contributed in some way or another to the lives of many people who have become successful over the years.
Mazibuko comes with a wealth of knowledge and served as a Departmental Head for the intermediate phase for 10 years. Her hard work and determination led her to being appointed as the school’s Deputy Principal recently.
