From taxi driver to teaching degree
'I realised I had a passion for children. I also knew my life had a greater purpose..."
Teachers are said to be the foundation a child’s future is built upon. A young teacher from Busy Bee Primary School, 27-year-old Lungani Mlambo has expressed how fulfilling it is to be involved in educating the youth.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to impart knowledge onto the young learners. It is not only about teaching, but also about building relationships with the children. My passion and drive for education is what keeps me through the challenging days.”
It hasn’t been an easy road for Mlambo. After finishing high school in 2010, he applied for an Electrical Engineering course at Majuba TVET College in 2011. Realising he was not keen on the course, he dropped out. In 2012, to try and make ends meet, he became a cab driver until 2014. He then realised his love for sharing knowledge and decided to study towards a qualification in education.
“In 2015, I registered at UNISA to study towards a Bachelor of Education Degree. The course was over a period of three years and I finished in record time and graduated early this year. I realised I had a passion for children. I also knew my life had a greater purpose and I was stubborn in pushing myself to follow that specific purpose. It was not easy of course, but I think a person’s will must push them to a point where they realise they are not deterred by any challenges.”
Mlambo began his teaching career in April this year, at Busy Bee Primary School:
“I am grateful for the opportunity to teach at Busy Bee. I teach Grades 5 to 7 and focus on Maths, Technology and Social Sciences. Interacting with my learners each day gives me great joy. They are able to talk to and trust me when I guide them.”
He concluded that being a teacher required patience:
“You must realise that, first and foremost, you are dealing with children. You need to be patient with each learner because they may not demonstrate the same capabilities academically. Parents also need to be fully involved in their children’s school work, check their homework and ask them how their day was. Such things are important, because we all have to work together.”
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