When I finished my studies at the University of the Western Cape little did I know that one day I would find myself teaching at a school like Sandwater Primary, a rural school in the Eastern Cape.
My school career was spent at a fairly privileged school with most, if not all, the necessary facilities. I was unaware that there were schools out there with nothing but a bare structure, perhaps a board to write on if you were lucky.
When I walked into this facility, which had no fence, no toilet, I knew that this is where the real teachers are. I knew that I would have to adjust and brace myself for an entirely new world. This environment put to the test all that I was taught at university; it made me learn new ways of handling challenges.
Here I not only became a school manager, I learned a few other things – like how to fix broken doors and windows; how to repair a broken photocopier and other utilitarian gadgets. These and other odd tasks were all in a day’s work.
”Meneer, bel asseblief my kind in Knysna, haar pa kan nie sterf nie, hy wil sy oudste dogter sien [Sir, please phone my child in Knysna, her father can’t die, he wants to see his oldest daughter]” was the impassioned plea from an old woman desperate for help.
She had no phone at home to call her eldest daughter to come home to fulfil the dying wish of an old man. I will never forget the man’s face and I am particularly glad the daughter got to see her father before he died. To me this was priceless.
Despite the immense challenges we face daily, the hard work is punctuated with lots of smiles and a tremendous sense of fulfilment.
Although at first I couldn’t see myself becoming part of this kind of environment I am pleased that I persevered and faced the challenges head on. I am also happy that I work with committed people who make the workload and the challenges seem small and light.
What inspires me most is to see changes, not only in the learners but the general situation in the community here. I really feel appreciated and blessed to work in this place!
Elroy Augustus is principal of Sandwater Primary School in Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape