“NGIYASIKHULUMA IsiZulu, ngiyasibhala futhi,” translated “I speak IsiZulu fluently and I can write it too”.

These were the words of Ashmintha Munoo, who is retiring after a 42-year career in education.

Munoo, the Social Sciences Departmental Head at Queensburgh Girls’ High School, reflected on her journey, which began in humble surroundings on a farm in Sawoti on the South Coast.

She recalled travelling 40km by bus to high school every day, walking part of the journey.

“I completed my matric in 1979. In 1984, I obtained my Bachelor of Pedagogics (B Paed) in Arts, majoring in English, Geography and Education.

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I also have a Bachelor of Education degree and an honours degree in Management,” she said.

The 65-year-old said her teaching career began at Cool Air Secondary School in the Midlands.

“After getting married to my gentleman husband, I was transferred to Dale View Secondary School in Phoenix. From there, I moved to Tongaat High School, where I took up a full-time matric geography teaching post.”

In 2002, she joined Queensburgh Girls High School, where she spent much of her teaching career.

Speaking about her childhood, Munoo said they enjoyed playing indigenous games as school holidays were filled with visits from extended family members who travelled from Durban to spend time with them on the farm.

Leader by nature

She believes teaching was a calling that revealed itself from an early age. As a child, she said she was often chosen to play the role of a teacher, while at school she served as a class monitor and regularly ran errands for her teachers.

“I was a head prefect in primary school and a deputy head prefect in high school. Leadership comes easily to me,” she said.

As the youngest among her extended family of siblings, Munoo said she was spoilt.

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Her passion for education was shaped by the values instilled in her from a young age.

“There was a huge emphasis on education being the root of success. Even if you had a headache, you were given a pill and expected to go to school. I had 100% attendance,” she recalled.

Throughout her career, Munoo also took on various leadership and extracurricular responsibilities. She served as a prefect mistress at every school where she taught and headed sports programmes, coaching both netball and volleyball teams.

Beyond her professional achievements, she considers one of her greatest rewards to be the role she played in shaping the lives of learners.

“My greatest achievement is knowing that I had a hand in helping some children become the best versions of themselves,” she said.

Supportive husband

As she retires, Munoo said she will miss the learners and, most importantly, the opportunity to teach them.

“I leave with a happy heart, knowing that the contribution I made was to the best of my ability. I have gone above and beyond what was expected of me in the line of duty.”

Speaking about her journey, Munoo was quick to acknowledge the unwavering support of her husband, whom she credits as an important part of her success.

“He supported me in every way. He even took on roles at some of the schools where I taught, volunteering his time and assisting with transport,” she said.

The couple have two children and two grandchildren.

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With retirement offering an opportunity to pursue other interests, Munoo’s bucket list includes travelling and spending more quality time with her daughter.

She also intends to devote more time to the Sri Sathya Sai Spiritual Organisation of South Africa, which has its international headquarters in India.

“Every year, my husband and I travel to India, where I head the Christmas programme.

Now that I have retired, I will be fully involved in the organisation, which will demand much of my time.

“At the beginning of each year, we assist children by providing stationery. We are also involved in feeding schemes at various schools,” she said.

Looking back on her 42 years in education, Munoo said the profession had undergone many changes, and she had learnt valuable lessons along the way.

“My dedicated service has churned out learners in all walks of life both locally and abroad through whom my legacy of hard work, integrity and passion for a successful South Africa lives on.”

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