The Columba Leadership Conference urges ‘out of box thinking’

The Columba Leadership, Activating Youth 2.0 Conference had two different classes for both the teachers and the learners at the Wits Education Centre in Parktown where different schools from Gauteng attended to learn more about thinking out of the box.

The teacher’s room was brimming with positive suggestions on how to make the learners schooling years as effective as possible by always supporting the learners and helping them unlock their best potential in stead of condemning them.

One teacher who was vocal about how teacher’s sometimes irresponsibly cast away young learners in criticism in stead of supporting them and helping them find their strengths was Mathibedi Medupe from Seshegong Secondary School in Olivenhoutbotch.
Medupe who is a teacher himself said, “South African teachers should go to schools ready to teach the African child and not to thrash them and judge them. Teachers should go back to the teacher’s policies and mandates and educate.”

The Provincial Manager for Columba Leadership, Monique Blignaut was also wearing her colourful think out the box helmet when she elaborated how this was the fifth year for this annual event which has a different theme yearly.
This year’s theme is ‘Think Different’, Blignaut said, “With teachers we discussed how they can ignite the change in the classroom so that learners can then go further to bring change in the school which will then be transferred to the communities. We urged them to think out of the box, inspire them to bring positive change with what they have.”

Duduzile Monareng from the Johannesburg East District spoke about the need from teachers to support the girl learner, she said, “If we continue always condemning the female learners in school for the bad decision and mistakes they’ve made at home, we will never have female leaders. Teachers should always be positive and support learners so that the learners can be the positive change the country so desires.”