School’s out for popular principal
FOR 42 years, Farouk Bayat had woken up each morning with the aim of shaping young minds and preparing pupils for life.
Yesterday, at a tearful farewell, the popular New West Secondary School principal retired after a lifetime of memories and several teaching accolades, including a National Teaching Award.
He is expected to represent KwaZulu-Natal in the national finals later this year, in the lifetime category.
During his career, Bayat completed three degrees.
And while his career has been filled with many highlights, he said it was the love of his pupils and fellow teachers that he would miss the most.
Bayat, 65, spent 28 years at New West Secondary in Newlands West, with 20 years as principal.
He started teaching in 1975 at PR Pather Secondary School in Merebank where he taught English.
Bayat then moved to Lakehaven Secondary School in Sea Cow Lake in 1980 and became the English head of department.
His career took him to New West Secondary School in 1989.
“The past 20 years in school have been very fruitful years, as we have produced excellent results. In 2014, we produced the top pupil in the country. In 2012, one of our pupils was third in the country, second in KZN and best female pupil in maths and science in KZN,” he said.
Challenges
Bayat said although the school had done well over the years, there were some challenges which they managed to overcome.
“The change in curriculum over the years had become a problem. There was insufficient intensive training of our teachers to deliver the curriculum, but our school in partnership with other schools, got our teachers to master the curriculum so that they could deliver it.”
Bayat said he had learnt many lessons as a teacher.
“My work taught me sympathy. I have discovered that they (pupils) sometimes face social problems that are deeper than what we see on the surface, from within their homes, which sometimes disturbs their learning. I have discovered that some of them deal with alcohol, physical, drug and verbal abuse.
“Teachers also have families and go through problems. So all of that has taught me patience and tolerance.”
He said he would miss the interaction he had with the pupils and wished he had a chance to get to know them individually.
Bayat said he realised how much his pupils cared about him when they learnt of his retirement late last year and bought him a gift.
“It meant a lot to me and I’m going to miss them.”
Now that he has retired, he has planned a few holidays with his wife, Ayesha.
He, however, does not plan to sit idly at home and intends to give back to his community by working with NGOs that support school programmes, and good management and governance at schools.
His advice to his fellow teachers is for them to be passionate about their work.
“We need to make a difference in our society because our country needs educated youth, so it’s within us to make those youth educated,” said Bayat.