By Mzukona Mantshontsho
Teachers help by giving back to communities, while developing critical leadership skills for the classroom and beyond.
Yo School Magazine recently spoke to Educator Thandeka Dlamini about her career journey so far.
Tell us about your brief history and how you got into education?
If you asked me ten years ago what I wanted to be when I grow up; the response was definitely not being a Teacher. During my childhood days, I never liked teaching because it looked easy and boring as portrayed by my both parents who are teachers. Therefore, I wanted a change and a more challenging profession. I always saw myself as an international model, and it was promising, but my conservative parents would not allow it.
My father would not let his only daughter be exploited and go around half naked as he saw it. I needed to adhere to societal expectations and acquire an educational qualification first. I’m glad they stood their ground on that one. I enrolled for Public Relations in one of the universities and started modelling part-time.
That is when I realised what exploitation means. It was a dirty industry which needed a young black child to be strong willed and have a firm backbone. So I quit because I refused to lie on my back for shows. Finally, I completed my course, got internship in an advertising and marketing agency for six months.
How the teaching career came?
That is when teaching came to play in my life. The private sector had not worked in my favour or as anticipated and all I wanted at that point in time was to get into governments payroll. I dropped my application on the closing deadline day and with God’s grace it was approved. August 2016, I was a student at college for a primary teacher’s diploma specialising in English and French.
What are your thoughts on Covid-19 and teaching?
I think Covid- 19 has brought a wake-up call to ministry of education to enforce the use of digital learning. It is important to keep abreast with the evolving technology which on return is crucially beneficial to the learners. The pandemic has also reminded parents about their stakeholdership in the educational system to be hands on in their children’s learning progress. Homeschooling brings up maximum interaction with the “teacher” and also allows for a combination of teaching methods to be possible in the case where learners prefers two or more teaching methods. The next best is online learning, so learning methods may not be possible with this one but most are. Here learners are able to interact with their teachers as well as with other learners. I’ve noticed some private schools have combined online learning with homeschooling, the teacher will send videos of themselves breaking down the lesson then the parent does the exercises with the child, that can also be an effective way of teaching.
Lessons learnt thus far as a teacher?
Teaching in primary has been a privilege and learning journey endured which has impacted positively on my character. It has taught me not to just teach but to inspire learner’s, to change their mindsets positively and never give up on them even when faced with challenges that seem impossible. It made me realize that all children needs are attention, acceptance, patience, love and compassion. The happier and free they are the more comfortable they become with their educator which makes communication easier and the learning environment a pleasant place to be.
Today, I am more cautious and vigilant of my surroundings, because having young people’s lives needs me to be exceptionally alert not to miss any changes. I have most importantly grown to love myself more because without love what will they draw out of me?
What do you say to those in tertiary doing education?
Those in tertiary institutions need to clearly understand what being a teacher is and means in order to prepare themselves mentally, emotionally and physically for the corporate world. Hence taking the fundamentals being learnt at tertiary seriously.
Being a teacher needs one to wear different shades of characters daily: you become a parent because parental guidance is necessary at times. When learners are ill it’s your responsibility to be a nurse and comfort them.
You have to be a mentor and role model to the innocent souls – mould and motivate them to be better responsible individuals in society and in general life. Encouraging them to be the best in all they do, not forgetting inflicting spiritual guidelines as the word of God is life!
A teacher has to care and inspire various personalities; privileged and underprivileged, above average and below average learners – they all need you in their own different ways. Therefore, aspiring teacher always remember that you can either “make” or “break” learner’s lives. They are all future leaders and equally deserve a learning chance.
How do new educators navigate their way in the profession?
They ought to be prepared to work and adapt under the working conditions they find in that particular school whether urban or rural school. This is to say you need to keep your head high and above sea level in whatever situation you find yourself in. Your passion and goal will be your driving force to excel.
They should also be capable of working under a team of teachers who have got different characters and personalities as well as the different kinds of learners they will be imparting knowledge to.
Honestly, there are no dummies on how to do it as experiences may be different with many individuals. There’s no formula of being a “perfect teacher” I believe a good teacher is one that makes the learners excited about learning, a teacher who smiles and makes them enjoy coming to school each and every day.
They should be able to adhere to the demands of the learners to improve the teaching and learning process and to ease the process for them as they teach the learners. This includes going an extra mile if need be. Your priority is ensuring that learner’s understand subject matter always.
