‘Master of all trades’ calls it a day
FTER 40 years spent nurturing young minds and managing others, the principal of Wingen Heights Secondary School has called it a day.
But as Gordon Govender finally turns his back on his Shallcross school of 30 years – 20 as principal – it is with a deep sense of accomplishment and pride.
It was perhaps fitting, then, that his recent retirement farewell function was just one of several the school celebrated that day.
The school community that gathered, along with education officials, also witnessed the official opening of a new school hall cum sports centre which Govender had personally project-managed, a second major access driveway, a parking zone and, to top it off – a nine-hole putt-putt course.
He had developed the mini golf course himself in his spare time.
“What makes me enjoy my work is that I’m ready to take on a challenge and I think out of the box,” Govender, 65, told POST.
“I see the changes in education as a science which I am always ready to take on, including bringing fresh ideas and thinking in terms of how education is managed.”
He said he had always been passionate about teaching as he was raised in a family of teachers.
“I believe fate dealt me a good hand when I took up teaching rather then my childhood ideal of becoming a doctor.
“My three siblings are teachers and so are many more in our extended family.”
In his farewell speech, Govender thanked his staff for producing outstanding pupils whose results are among the best in the country. Some of the matric pupils featured regularly in the top 10 in the region, in the province and a few times, nationally.
“Our focus and aim was and is always for students to achieve top-quality passes in matric, as this will open doors to tertiary institutions and position them in front of the now ever-growing queues for placement at tertiary institutions,” he said.
“Our ex-learners, who we track regularly, are excelling, and many are now captains and leaders in the private and corporate sectors in industry, commerce, engineering, research and the medical sciences.
“We even have a brilliant ex student, Divashen Govender, on the shortlist to travel to Mars. Imagine one of our own sons planting the Wingen flag on Martian soil! A giant leap of faith for this future scientist and astronaut,” an emotional and proud Govender said.
The Mars One initiative, run as a not-for-profit organisation
Staff paid tribute to Govender and the KZN Department of Education’s district director, Shobana Mandraj, called him “a Jack of all trades and a master of all”.
“Gordon Govender has taken a fine institution and transformed it into an exemplary one.
“The Department of Education extends its fervent and wholehearted appreciation to Govender for the many years of loyal dedication and commitment he bestowed on the education fraternity,” she said.
Des Naidoo, chairman of the Chatsworth and District Principals’ Forum and principal of Woodhurst Secondary School, thanked Govender for providing visionary leadership, mentorship and guidance.
“He has provided exemplary service to the Principals’ Association. Mr Govender’s contribution to education will remain a beacon of excellence,” he said.