Amanda Winter
7/12/07
Discussion with Jackson Hadebe
During our first week in South Africa, my fellow MSU students and I had the opportunity to visit with Jackson Hadebe, a superintendent in Nkandla, to learn about how the educational system here is similar and different to ours in the United States. Mr. Hadebe was the principal of Umbonambi Primary School from 1998-2003, and now he is in charge of many different schools in the Nkandla area. He discussed with us how even though Apartheid has ended, it is still difficult to get all students to attend school. In his words, “they are now free to go to school, but also free not to go.” Now that everyone has the opportunity to attend schools in South Africa, students have become jaded and disrespectful of the educational system.
After some time, Mr. Hadebe gave our fellow MSU alumnus, Adam, a chance to speak to us about how the educational system in South Africa is centralized. He explained to us how decisions have to be sent from the schools all the way up until they reach the National Department of Education in Pretoria. Before they reach this step, they go through the different wards, then the circuits, through the districts, then the clusters, through the individual Department of Educations in each of the nine provinces, then finally up to the National level. It is only then that the decisions can be made final.
When the floor was given back to Mr. Hadebe, he began to tell us about how teachers must learn to accommodate if they are going to teach in South Africa. For example, if there are not enough books to give to each student, what will the teacher do? This is a reality that teachers often face here. He said something that stuck out in my mind: “Teachers must be mobile textbooks.” He also made a profound statement that made each and every one of us stop to think about our own teaching techniques. He said, “In order to be a good teacher, you need to understand your learner FIRST!” How can we effectively differentiate our teaching if we do not first know our students?
Something that was sad to hear, but I am sorry to say a reality here in South Africa, was about the security grants that are given to families to encourage students to continue with their schooling even if they have a baby. Unfortunately, these security grants are doing the opposite of what they intended to by encouraging students to get pregnant so that they will receive the R190/month. Although this grant is in theory a good idea, something else must be done to stop these young girls from having unwanted babies.
To end on a good note, Mr. Hadebe spoke to us about his efforts to increase literacy among the learners at all of his schools. He recited a rhyme that his students in Nkandla know: “Read! Read! Read! The more I read the more I know. The more I know the more I grow!” This part of the discussion was especially interesting to me because of my concentration in literacy back at MSU. Mr. Hadebe told us about how the students all have something to read when he visits their school, whether it be a book, part of a newspaper, or even just written words on a scrap of paper. I think we all had a good picture in our minds of his learners nervously going to the front of the assembly to read aloud to their fellow classmates. Mr. Hadebe ended with yet another helpful and encouraging piece of advice: “Utilize your students’ skills so that you can teach them better!”
7/12/07
Discussion with Jackson Hadebe
During our first week in South Africa, my fellow MSU students and I had the opportunity to visit with Jackson Hadebe, a superintendent in Nkandla, to learn about how the educational system here is similar and different to ours in the United States. Mr. Hadebe was the principal of Umbonambi Primary School from 1998-2003, and now he is in charge of many different schools in the Nkandla area. He discussed with us how even though Apartheid has ended, it is still difficult to get all students to attend school. In his words, “they are now free to go to school, but also free not to go.” Now that everyone has the opportunity to attend schools in South Africa, students have become jaded and disrespectful of the educational system.
After some time, Mr. Hadebe gave our fellow MSU alumnus, Adam, a chance to speak to us about how the educational system in South Africa is centralized. He explained to us how decisions have to be sent from the schools all the way up until they reach the National Department of Education in Pretoria. Before they reach this step, they go through the different wards, then the circuits, through the districts, then the clusters, through the individual Department of Educations in each of the nine provinces, then finally up to the National level. It is only then that the decisions can be made final.
When the floor was given back to Mr. Hadebe, he began to tell us about how teachers must learn to accommodate if they are going to teach in South Africa. For example, if there are not enough books to give to each student, what will the teacher do? This is a reality that teachers often face here. He said something that stuck out in my mind: “Teachers must be mobile textbooks.” He also made a profound statement that made each and every one of us stop to think about our own teaching techniques. He said, “In order to be a good teacher, you need to understand your learner FIRST!” How can we effectively differentiate our teaching if we do not first know our students?
Something that was sad to hear, but I am sorry to say a reality here in South Africa, was about the security grants that are given to families to encourage students to continue with their schooling even if they have a baby. Unfortunately, these security grants are doing the opposite of what they intended to by encouraging students to get pregnant so that they will receive the R190/month. Although this grant is in theory a good idea, something else must be done to stop these young girls from having unwanted babies.
To end on a good note, Mr. Hadebe spoke to us about his efforts to increase literacy among the learners at all of his schools. He recited a rhyme that his students in Nkandla know: “Read! Read! Read! The more I read the more I know. The more I know the more I grow!” This part of the discussion was especially interesting to me because of my concentration in literacy back at MSU. Mr. Hadebe told us about how the students all have something to read when he visits their school, whether it be a book, part of a newspaper, or even just written words on a scrap of paper. I think we all had a good picture in our minds of his learners nervously going to the front of the assembly to read aloud to their fellow classmates. Mr. Hadebe ended with yet another helpful and encouraging piece of advice: “Utilize your students’ skills so that you can teach them better!”
