A teacher who was walking to work during the recent heavy rains fell before reaching the school, and still went to teach for the day.

Goodness Shabangu, a Grade Two teacher at Sabeka Primary School at Lillydale in the Bushbuckridge Municipality, says her dedication to the future of the learners stands over and above anything else.

She wants other teachers to learn from her by acknowledging that smaller problems must not come as a stumbling block for teaching and learning.

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Shabangu and two other teachers, Nomvula Mculu and Alucia Chiloane, had used a minibus taxi to travel to school on the morning of January 22.

About 2km before the school, the driver was forced to turn back because the road was too muddy and had been severely damaged, making it impossible for any vehicle to use.

“We were left with no option than to walk the remaining 2km to the school. I, however, slipped and fell as we tried to negotiate the muddy road,” said Shabangu.

“I tried to balance myself, but found myself covered in mud. My colleague, Nomvula, helped me stand up, but my dress was already wet and dirty. Then I decided to go to work anyway, because I value the children’s education more than anything else,” added Shabangu.

Mculu said the falling of her colleague was a very bad sight and that it happened in a blink of an eye.

“As we were walking next to the extremely damaged road, my colleague suddenly lost her balance and fell. She was very lucky that she was not severely injured. I quickly picked her up and tried to wipe off the mud on her dress but that was too late because the damage had already been done,” said Mculu.

She said she thought Shabangu would not continue going to school because of the disastrous situation but was surprised when she opted to go ahead.

“Such teachers are rare. She said she was too dedicated for her class and was going ahead even though her dress was dirty. Not every teacher can do that, especially if the teacher is a female. My colleague is unique in her own right,” explained Mculu.

An SGB member at the school said Shabangu was a great example of dedicated teachers.

“We don’t find such teachers these days. Another teacher would have returned home under the circumstances. We are calling upon other teachers to learn from this teacher for the future of our children,” said the SGB member who opted to remain anonymous.