Passion for teaching wins plaudits
A NEW Brighton primary school principal and a maths teacher from a Walmer high school have been lauded for their passion for the job and going beyond the call of duty to make an indelible difference in pupils’ lives.
Daniels Primary School principal Margaret Mvane and Victoria Park High School maths teacher Rashied Wynford are among 10 Eastern Cape educators in the running for the National Teaching Awards this weekend.
Mvane won the provincial award in the excellence in primary school leadership category, while Wynford bagged the excellence in teaching maths award.
The annual awards, now in their 15th year, will be presented by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga at Gauteng’s Gallagher Estate on Saturday.
Mvane said she was excited about being acknowledged for the hard work she did as heading a school was no easy task.
“The most important thing for me is knowing that as a leader and principal of the school, I have five key responsibilities and I work hard at each one of them,” she said.
These included managing staff as well as the curriculum, which she said had gone a long way in making her school stand out the way it did.
“Human resources – which includes staff, pupils and parents – is a very difficult resource to manage.
“For me, the most important resources are teachers.
“I feel I need to ensure their mental, emotional and spiritual wellness, because if we do not get that right, they won’t make a positive impact on the child.
“I need to constantly remind myself that my staff are not just that – outside the school, they are spouses, parents and community members,” Mvane said.
A typical day started with staff sharing uplifting thoughts on a particular theme, under the umbrella theme of “I am my brother’s keeper”.
“It’s about getting a positive attitude and mindset and these sessions go a long way in preparing teachers to deal with pupils,” she said.
“I’m blessed to work with very dedicated staff who are always willing to do anything to better the school.
“Our parents would love to send their children to former Model C schools, but just can’t afford to. So my aim is to bring that [culture] here.
“Our mission is to be the best primary school . . . in the city.”
Mvane said she received leadership tips and ideas to better her school from her mentor, Collegiate Junior School for
I feel I need to ensure their mental, emotional and spiritual wellness
Girls principal Gill Robinson.
Victoria Park High’s Wynford, described as a teacher who lives and breathes maths, said he was excited by the accolade after having done his best to try to improve maths performances, not only in his school, but in the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage districts as a whole.
“We have a very big challenge and I try my best to make a difference in the area where I serve,” he said. “I’m passionate about teaching maths and believe that every child has the potential to achieve if he or she gets the proper support and guidance.”
So good is he at teaching maths that he was asked by district education authorities to train maths teachers from poorly performing schools to teach the subject effectively.
“We need teachers to be in class, on time and prepared,” he said.
“They need to know that there are three levels of pupils – high, middle and low achievers – and they need to cater to all of them.
“Pupils also need to understand that if they do well in maths, they will do well in all other subjects.”
Wynford has been helping out in the district’s poorer schools with maths tutoring for pupils and training teachers from Motherwell’s Cingani and other high schools in effective maths teaching methods.
Victoria Park High School principal Mike Vermaak said: “We are extremely proud. He [Wynford] really throws his heart into maths and basically lives and breathes it.”
Department of Basic Education spokesman Terence Khala said: “As an acknowledgement to the true heroes and heroines of our nation, the National Teaching Awards recognise excellence and the outstanding contributions of the selfless individuals who open the doors of knowledge to the nation’s future leaders.”