Daily Dispatch

SA in need of more Pakades

IN A news week dominated by the chaotic scenes that played out in parliament and the rejection of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s candidacy as the next ANC president by amaXhosa king Zwelonke Sigcawu, it was easy to miss a very important story on these pages last week.

Granted, the state of the nation address was the main news event of the week. What with Julius Malema’s EFF having already made it known that they would disrupt President Jacob Zuma’s main event for the year.

As expected, the camera lenses zoomed in on the proceedings inside the National Assembly chamber where Zuma was to address the joint sitting of parliament.

What happened on Thursday night is now history, although this has not stopped the surfacing of clever Memes on social media, poking fun at the parliamentarians involved in the fracas.

All those events were important but they were not more paramount than the story of former Kwa-Komani Comprehensive School principal Victor Pakade who – until a video of a tear-jerking farewell from his pupils started doing rounds on social media – was unknown to most of us.

In the video which has since racked up more than 250 000 views online, Pakade could be seen consoling his pupils who could not bear the reality of seeing their beloved principal leave.

We have become accustomed to videos of incidents of school bullying and those of teachers perpetrating or being on the receiving end of physical abuse from pupils. The story was a heartwarming change of pace – and an important one at that.

It is ironic that we had Pakade’s story just a few days after we reported on another school principal who had been paid R1.9-million while staying at home.

In that case, Phindile Magalela – a principal at J M Ndindwa High School in Balfour – was found guilty of making inappropriate comments to schoolgirls and beating them when they rejected his unwelcome advances.

Frankly, we need more teachers like Pakade and have to rid our system of the likes of Magalela. Teachers like Pakade already exist and are the everyday heroes – who do exemplary work without an expectation of anything in return – in our schools. Pakade told the Dispatch the secret to the special relationship that he enjoys with his pupils, lies in how he treats them.

“I treat them as my own by ensuring that I understand each and every one of them and give them my trust,” he explained.

Our public schools have been associated with mediocrity and poor results. Therefore the likes of Pakade need to be celebrated and supported in their efforts to turn around the negative image.

Pakade has already started in his new role at Ebenezer Majombozi High School where the 2016 results (69.3%) mirrored the provincial average. Kwa-Komani achieved a 73% pass rate under his leadership.

We wish Pakade well in his new role and may he continue to be an inspiration to his pupils, counterparts and community alike.