Visionary principal retires after 43 years of service

The principal of the Durban School for the Hearing Impaired (DSHI) in Amanzimtoti has retired after 43 years of service.

Thayanaigee ‘Tyna’ Naidoo served as principal of the special school for the past 33 years and she was given a warm send-off at school on Wednesday, 30 November.

Taking over the helm in 1983, Tyna was one of the youngest female principals at the time.

She graduated at the University of Durban Westville with a diploma teaching of handicapped and hearing-impaired learners in 1971.

She took up the duties as an English teacher at a small special school in January 1972, which was opened by the Natal Blind and Deaf Society.

Her dedication and compassion towards special learners paid dividends in creating a learning environment where deaf, hard-of-hearing, intellectually-disabled and autistic learners could thrive and find their place in society.

“I am going to miss the contact with the special children to whom I have dedicated my entire career,” said Tyna.

“The past 43 years of my life have been spent with the special child being the focus of my attention. My time has been characterised and moulded to creating the best possible environment for pupils to achieve and attain their maximum potential.”

The visionary principal has seen the school through two relocations, before creating a base at the present address in Adams Road.

She was instrumental in securing grants and sponsorships that allowed the school to be fenced, buses to be bought and an autistic unit being built.

Under her guidance, the school has blossomed and excelled in all spheres.

“My tenure as principal has provided me with an opportunity of opening doors that were inaccessible to the special child. Achieving this has been a challenging and rewarding experience, especially when I see the outcomes attained.”

Tyna has always placed great emphasis on academic achievement and the school has been a proud recipient of the LSEN School Achievers Award for maintaining a 100% pass rate in the matric senior certificate examinations.

She has also created many opportunities for learners by introducing vocational courses and forming alliances with MERSETA, SHEETECH SA, and the National Institute for the Deaf.

Her achievements have been profound and will forever be remembered as the building blocks of the school’s success.

Members of the school governing body, parents, staff and pupils at the school thank her for her dedicated service through the years.

She has been a role model to all she encountered, with her achievements and dedication to the upliftment of the pupils with special needs making a remarkable difference to the lives of many.

“I leave this institution with very pleasant memories and reminiscence in the success of what we have achieved as a team.

I strongly believe that the staff are up to the challenges ahead and will continue to engage to improve the quality of life of the special child in our care,” said Tyna.

“In my retirement I will firstly take time off for myself and travel. Thereafter, I hope to give back some of my time to the special children in therapy sessions, drawing on my experience and years of interaction with them.”