Teacher Bernice imparts knowledge where she gained it
Bernice Shongoane is a former Noorderland High School learner and is now a subject head for physical and natural sciences and also teaches Gr 10 physical sciences at the school.
POLOKWANE – Bernice Shongoane has come full circle teaching at a school she was a learner at.
She started her career in 2013 as a lecturer at Capricorn TVET College and she transitioned to teaching high school.
Shongoane explained that she took this bold step because she wanted a more permanent position rather than being employed on a contract basis.
She shared that it was not easy moving from lecturing to teaching. “It was my first time teaching learners that young, but I managed to relate to them because I have children of my own. Having so many children in one area was an adjustment but I am coping,” she said.
She is currently a subject head for physical and natural sciences and she also teaches Gr 10 physical sciences at Noorderland High School.
She fell in love with physical sciences in Gr 10 and she explained that this was because some things you must imagine to make sense of.
“It requires one to use their imagination, trying to find answers to something that you are not sure of until you eventually crack the code. I first fell in love with mathematics until I discovered that there is a relationship between the two subjects that I could explore,”she explained.
Shongoane is a former Noorderland High School learner. This, for her is a full circle, returning to impart knowledge at a school where she gained her knowledge.
“I have fallen in love with teaching high school and I do not see myself exploring other ventures soon. I love being able to give advice to these young people and relating to them on a level of a parent-child-relationship. These children listen, and there are things that they cannot talk about with their parents, but are able to come to you as a teacher. It becomes your responsibility to advise them in such a way that even if their parents were to find out, they would be comfortable in the advice that you gave their child,” she said.
She shared that the best part of teaching is being part of the learners success story and having them come back to share how far they have come and how you impacted them.
