Educators attain the highest honour
These educators hope to inspire their learners and colleagues to aspire to achieve more.
Pursuing a PhD is not an easy feat, but the Springs Secondary School educators have achieved it. The school has been honoured with two educators who have received their doctoral degrees and will graduate this year.
Joined by school principal, Dr Kishan Bodalina, they sat down with The Springs Advertiser to talk about their journeys.
Dr Zyliekha Matwadia, a doctor in philosophy in education, said she based her thesis on nomophobia, which is the fear of being detached from your cellphone and the extent of this addiction on the quality of learning and teaching in Gauteng schools.
“I have a passion for the topic because it seems like everyone is glued to their cellphones. Learners and teachers are finding it very hard to leave their phones alone and concentrate,” she said.
She said with the research conducted, she hoped she could come up with a methodology to help manage this problem.
“I wanted to measure the extent of this addiction within the learning environment,” she added.
Dr Michael Kuseni’s doctorate thesis is slightly different as he is a doctor of management sciences, specialising in tourism.
“My work is centred around promoting ethical tourist behaviour. I was inspired after observing that tourists are not behaving in a manner that serves the tourist attraction’s best interests.
“I developed a framework for Smangaliso Wetland Park that encourages ethical tourism behaviour. Once the framework has been adopted, I can develop other frameworks for other tourist attractions,” he said.
They agree the journey to attaining a doctorate is not easy but they praise for the support they received.
“It was a difficult journey but I enjoyed it because the support I got from work and home afforded me the luxury to finish it.
“Completing your PhD is an extremely addictive endeavour because once you complete one, you want to do another. That is why I am in the process of applying for another one,” exclaimed Kuseni.
Bodalina, a doctor of philosophy with a specialisation in education management, qualified and graduated before the two.
ALSO READ: GDE announces plan to address learner suicides
“My doctorate thesis was centred around the experience of women leaders in the Gauteng East District education offices. The topic of women leaders is well researched as women are known to play second fiddle to their male counterparts.
“Culturally, women have been stereotypically believed not to be strong enough to take up leadership positions or being able to handle the pressure of senior positions,” he explained.
He added this topic is important because there are women of influence in all spheres.
“There are women teachers in the classroom or management positions in schools. Such passions help me grow as an individual and to help me manage the school,” he added.
He also lauds his support system.
ALSO READ: Environmental management takes centre stage in Ekurhuleni
“It was a five-year journey and I had a lot of support from family and the staff at school, especially the deputy principal.
“They gave me a lot of leeway because it is difficult to undertake this journey when you have so many other roles you are fulfilling, such as being a parent and a working individual. Trying to finish something like this is not so easy.
“There is a sense of relief and achievement too on a personal level as well and for me as a leader or a teacher, learners can see you achieve these things and aspire to attain them too,” affirmed Bodalina.
Matwadia says it is a life-long pursuit and passion.
“Our work never stops there because education is always about looking for answers,” she concluded.
