A recent article published in the Daily Maverick explored the need for newly qualified teachers in South Africa to be properly supported and mentored in their first years of teaching.
In Saturday’s Eastern Cape workshop, as soon as people started to arrive the room began to spill over with love and support. The support that schools receive comes from many places.
“Edufundi came at the right time for me, I did not know what to do but now I am confident,” said a Departmental Head in the Eastern Cape who started in a new position in a new school last year. She was echoing the words of a young deputy principal in KwaZulu-Natal who is excited about the coaching she is receiving that has helped her to get direction and order in her work.
“This is the first workshop where I didn’t want to leave!” says one participant. “I loved you last year and I love you this year still, Mrs V; I’m always excited to come to these workshops,” says another. Statements like this can be heard from many who attend Edufundi’s Lead Like a Champion workshops.
In celebration of World Teacher’s Day 2022, Edufundi is releasing a short documentary that celebrates the resilience of two primary schools in Durban following the devastating ‘triple blow’ over the last three years - the COVID pandemic in 2020, the social unrest in 2021 and the flooding in 2022.
“Growing up I have always been driven by the notion that the Education profession is a vehicle for all professions. I remember just how I admired the young teachers that came into my school. I knew then that I wanted to grow up and be a teacher.
I hope that in the future they invent a small golden light that follows you everywhere and when something is about to end, it shines brightly so you know it's about to end.
As this is Eskhululiwe Primary’s first year with Edufundi, the Lead Like a Champion aspect of the programme focuses on developing SMTs as effective instructional leaders