Africa’s oldest teacher is still thriving at 99 years

WHITE RIVER - Education is an important tool that helps society to obtain knowledge in order to better our lives and futures.

Teachers help us to obtain the necessary knowledge and usher us into a better future.

Ninety-nine-year-old Nontsikelelo Qwelane is the oldest teacher in Africa and has been teaching for 79 years.

Qwelane was born in the Eastern Cape on a small rural farm called Manzana. She started school in 1928.

"School shaped me to be hard-working, disciplined and dedicated. I had good teachers who helped to push me forward. They always reminded me that education was important and should not be taken for granted," she said.

Qwelane completed high school in 1936. "I always passed with good symbols so that when the inspectors came to my school, they would congratulate me. I was tasked with reciting a poem called ‘The Village Blacksmith’. That recognition encouraged me to vow that one day I would study at the University of South Africa,” she said.

Qwelane then enrolled at All Saints Training School where she trained to be a teacher. "It was a three-year course, which I completed in 1939. It had its challenges, but I endured," she said.

She added that she chose a career in education as it was one of the few available for people of colour. “Back in the day, you could either be a teacher or a nurse, but that is not the main reason why I chose teaching. I always loved children and had a passion for education,” she said.

Qwelane continued obtaining other qualifications in education to further her expertise. “I obtained a bachelor of arts in 1975, diploma in development studies in 1983, diploma in higher education in 1993, bachelor of education in 1996 and a masters of public administration in 1999.” Qwelane retired from teaching in public schools because of her age in 1983 and decided to work at private schools.

“I continued to teach because I love educating people and developing young minds. I aim to get my students to work hard year-round so they can have a bright future ahead of them and be good citizens of this country,” she said.

Qwelane is currently working at Metropolitan College in White River where she is constantly producing good results in grade 12 geography.

“I have been teaching geography for a long time and I know how to educate those who are not quick to grasp the subject.”

Qwelane said she does not like to be asked when she will retire because she finds it rude. “I do plan on retiring. When I finally close the curtains, I will talk to my school director and his wife and thank them for all that they have done for me. They have been darlings," she said.

‘I continued to teach because I love educating people and developing young minds. I aim to get them to work hard so they can have a bright future’