Career teacher concerned with education system
THE quality of education has declined dramatically in South Africa in recent years, with the abolishment of certain subjects exacerbating this.
This is the view of former IsiZulu and English teacher Tholiwe Mhlungu (82) of eSikhaleni J1 Section, who started teaching at the age of 19.
After completing now Grade 8 at Nteneshana Combined School, she went to Eshowe College where she studied for a Lower Primary Teaching Course.
Mhlungu believes the abolishment of religious education at schools has contributed to the illdiscipline of the pupils.
“In our day, we began the day with a prayer and reading of Bible scripture in assembly, and learners would go to their classrooms in a disciplined manner,” she said.
“There are so many important subjects that our government removed from the curriculum, such as handwork or practical work, gardening and handwriting, health and religious education, which I believe were the backbone of raising a complete person.
“Now our children are reluctant to even work in the garden as they feel it should be done by poor people, forgetting that everything we eat is from the soil.”
A full career in education
Originally from Port Durnford, Mhlungu worked at various schools around eSikhaleni before the establishment of eSikhaleni township.
She started her teaching career at Mhlanga Combined before teaching at Esikhawini Combined, Thando Combined and Mzingwenya Combined, where she was appointed as the vice-principal.
She said in the early 80s, she furthered her studies through distance learning and completed matric.
She also completed her teaching diploma through distance learning at Vista University in 1987.
“While working at Mazingazi Combined, I was influenced to join the charity organisation Molteno Project, which equipped teachers with teaching languages such as Afrikaans, English and IsiZulu.
“My principal allowed me to attend a two-week training in Johannesburg in 1991. The training was attended by 27 educators from various areas and schools. On my return, I introduced new teaching methods.
“In 1997, the same NPO did more training in England. We went to Leeds University where we spent four months. On my return, I was responsible for training other teachers in the new teaching methods across the province,” she said.
Mhlungu retired at the age of 56, and is now doing gardening and sewing at home. She is part of the local church senior citizens group, sewing curtains and teaching handwork to the local youth.