The disestablishment of NIHE Mpumalanga was heralded by the Technical Educators’ Graduation at an event held at the Indlela Country Lodge and Conference Centre in eMalahleni on 21 November 2014. The graduation ceremony was a fruition of a collaboration between the Mpumalanga Department of Education, The Tshwane University of Technology and the National Institute of Higher Education.
Thirty-eight (38) FET band educators got a refreshed course on practical knowledge. TUT engineering and electrical unit was involved in this. The educators were taken through the Introduction to Mechanical and Electrical Engineering courses. The training was done in four phases and site visits at schools were done to touch base with the educators to assist them and to monitor them. The training came into completion by the end of October 2014. The graduation was attended by the graduates, their family members and well-wishers. To bring all those who attended up to speed with the content and what transpired during the training, a slide show was presented by Mr Conrad Koster, the programme coordinator.
In her keynote address, the MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule highlighted the importance of Teacher development when she said, “When our educators are fully trained and are able to transfer their knowledge to learners, it creates a balance in our communities and thus denounce the notion that after twenty years of our democracy there still exists ‘previously disadvantaged communities or schools’. We share a collective view that we need to act in a manner that empowers our teachers through all means, including inculcating technical skills because we fully understand that in case we fail to do so, the country will be at the risk of mediocrity.” The certificates were awarded by the MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule, Dr. Paul Maminza; Acting CEO NIHE Mpumalanga and Dr. Coneth Richards; Tshwane University of Technology Site Head.
The responsibility now rests with the teachers to practice the skills and impart the knowledge gained in the training so that these skills and knowledge could be transferred to learners and thus educators were implored to note the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King who once said: “The prosperity of any country depends not on the abundance of its revenues, nor the strength of its fortifications, nor the beauty of its public buildings, but in its cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightment and character,” Two special awards were given to Mr Enoch Mokwana and Ms Apoka Phiri who passed their courses in top marks. One graduate, Mr. Mahlalela Sibusiso from Erick Nxumalo High School in Bohlabela District said, “The course has given him an opportunity to use machinery such as lathe at the workshop floor. I am confident that this will bring some positive change as learners will in this regards be able to get the proper practical skills in mechanical and electrical technology and thus be in a position to excel.”
The Mpumalanga Department of Education congratulates all the teachers who graduated and wishes them all the best in their teaching activities at the classroom level.
