Curro Mount Richmore teacher aims to bring out the gold in his pupils
With almost 2 years at Curro Mount Richmore, Mr Mabena has one goal in mind: "I believe in teaching for life, and not only for information. Life lessons taught through the eyes of a teacher are seeds that become the tree that will feed the nation one day. We no longer teach for now, but for a better tomorrow," he says.
Teachers should believe that each child has gold inside them and their task should be to find it.
Head of primary school at Curro Mount Richmore, Mr Bafana Mabena, has been practicing what he preaches for 15 years.
A family man and father, everything he practices at school starts at home, he says.
With almost 2 years at Curro Mount Richmore, Mr Mabena has one goal in mind: “I believe in teaching for life, and not only for information. Life lessons taught through the eyes of a teacher are seeds that become the tree that will feed the nation one day. We no longer teach for now, but for a better tomorrow,” he says.
“I look at each learner as a seed. The more I water, the more they grow. Everyone has something of value within and our job as teachers is not only to teach but to draw the best out of each learner to ensure they reach their full potential as God has intended.”
Mr Mabena says he regularly draws on his 8-year-old daughter for inspiration.
“She inspires me to think outside of the box as school is no longer what it was when I was in school. Innovations and creativity are the new way of thinking as we have seen, especially throughout Covid-19.”
A firm believer that a healthy body makes for a healthy mind, Mr Mabena is a very active person who keeps in shape through running.
He has completed 7 Comrades marathons with 3 silver medals. He also enjoys being actively involved in mentorship programs.
“I believe in making a difference through mentorship, with the goal of empowering young men in making better choices in life as part of my contribution to a better society.”
At school, Mr Mabena concentrates on bridging the gap between the different grades and said the school uses project-based learning, an instrumental methodology that encourages learners to learn and apply knowledge and skill through an engaging experience.
The family man concluded with some advice to parents.
“Let us make our stars see the light they carry. Make time as parents to eat with the TV switched off, to create time in our busy schedules and invest morals and values in our children. Remember, we make time for things that are important to us.”
For breaking news follow The North Coast Courier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
