BARBARA ‘Barbie’ Daniel has devoted more than three decades of service to education especially in the pre-primary school education phase.

Barbie, who has been the principal of St Martin’s Pre-Primary School since 1987, retires at the end of this year after leading the school for 37 years.

The local resident has a number of educational diplomas including a Diploma in Education for the Pre-Primary School, a Higher Diploma in Education for the Senior Primary School and a Further Diploma in Guidance and Counselling.

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She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Education.

She has also served on the National Department of Education’s pre-primary syllabus committee and is a part-time lecturer in the BEd Programme at The IIE’s Varsity College’s Durban North campus, a post she has held for the past 15 years.

Speaking to the Northglen News about her love for education, Barbie said she knew early on that education was her path in life.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. When I was a little girl, my next door neighbour and I, we are still friends to this day, used to play “school”. There was a split pole fence dividing our homes with spaces in the fence, my friend and I would each set up a blackboard on either side of the fence and we would teach lessons. I was also influenced by my aunt who was a pre-primary teacher and I would visit her often when I was studying at Rhodes University,” she said.

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Barbie added that the most rewarding thing was seeing her learners grow and flourish.

“Pre-school education is so foundational to future success. A lot of the time there is a focus on what is being poured in at the top, but an early learning environment is what will equip children not only for formal education but will instill an interest in lifelong learning as they acquire skills, knowledge and attitudes. The most rewarding thing has been seeing so many learners I’ve taught now have their children come to the school. Seeing them flourish and grow has been so rewarding. I will miss them the most,” she said.

Outside of education, Barbie is a passionate golfer and is travelling to the UK over the Christmas period.

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