B S Zulu, Cumberwood from Cumberland has spent his life learning in order to be a better teacher
I will never forget the day in which I decided to be a teacher. It was in 1979 after I have written my Std. 8 examination. I started talking about the language of teaching and, at that time, my mother had a strong influence about the teaching. My application was already successful. All I was awaiting was to get my results. In January 1980 I received my results. In February the same year, I went to the training college. I finished the course in two years. i.e. (P.T.C.)(check???). When I finished the matric as an important requirement in the teaching was roaming all over South Africa. After two years teacher training, I started my matric and passed after three years. The Colleges of Education were offering diplomas, i.e. (P.T.D. & S.T.D.) which were three years duration. Threats that any teacher without a diploma will be fired were made. I struggled and passed the diploma. That diploma ended up being a minimum qualification for any promotion. Now there is an OBE which is implemented. It is there to upgrade the teaching product not the quality of teachers and close the gap among black and white teachers. White teachers received the vast high standard of training from the onset because of the apartheid system. Instead, different institutions are offering different kinds of diplomas I feel would be motivated if this OBE would be a diploma on its own, not one day, two days, or even one week teacher training. I think the Department would see the success of the OBE in the whole country. At the present moment, most of the teachers are demotivated, except those who receive better salaries and who are in higher positions. I hope the success of OBE would result after it has been made a diploma on its own. The Department of Education, as well as the country at large, will reap the fruits. It is amazing that other sectors receive work uniforms and some privileges if there is no uniform, while teachers struggle for clothing and receive no allowances or privileges. Today, medical aid is an issue within the Department, while in other sectors, medical aid is 100% and nothing is being paid by members. There is no change positions until either the principal or the HOD is dead or retired, then you have to apply for the post. In teaching, if you have no luck, one can remain in post level 1 until one retires or dies. With us, the teachers, it seems as if the saying which says “experience is the best teacher” is being ignored, whereas in other sectors it is well recognised. All we need is the quality of our service then quality teaching. Send us your “A Day in My Life”, with a photograph, and if we publish it, we will pay you R700.
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— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, January, 2001.