/ 31 August 2009

A compass that seeks out knowledge

Mohau Pheko is a political economist, an expert on African issues, a columnist, businesswoman, feminist, a researcher and policy analyst. She grew up in a political environment in Tshitepo village in Zambia where she learned early how to tackle issues in an open-minded but robust way.

She began her career as a nurse, but abandoned it for academia. One of her highest qualifications is a master’s degree in philosophy and development economics from New York University. She recently added fashion design to her growing personal portfolio, establishing her own clothing line.

How old are you?
I am almost half a century.

How do you earn your living?
I do economic and trade policy research, analysis and run trade and economic literacy courses. I am a budding fashion designer and have a clothing line and house-furnishing products from around the African continent, Latin America and Asia, which I fuse. I present a radio show called Africa Talks, which focuses on issues on the African content.

Where did you grow up?
I am an African child. I was born in Roodepoort, lived in Swaziland, Rhodesia — now Zimbabwe — Zambia, Kenya and several cities in the United States. These were a mix of rural and urban areas.

Which schools (primary and secondary) and universities did you attend?
In 1965 I went to Lusaka Infants School for my first years of education, then to Lusaka Girls’ School for primary. In 1971 I went to the Rift Valley Academy to do my grade six to grade 12. I started my tertiary education in 1978 and went to several universities: Marion College, Indiana University, University of the State of New York, Valhalla University. I also took a course at the University of Cape Town’s business school where I studied fashion design, learning how to sew, make patterns and my own designs and learning about textiles.

Did you have a favourite teacher/s?
Yes, three really stand out for me. My grade three teacher, Mrs Simons, my grade six teacher, Mrs Old, and my microbiology lecturer at university, Dr Niedeprum.

Why were you so fond of them?
They made complex or boring subjects come alive; they taught subjects in ways that you could relate to and remember. Mrs Simons taught me how to swim and Mrs Old forced me to read books that taught me values. Dr Niedeprum helped me believe that my experiments were brilliant and encouraged me to enter a competition in an area that I never thought I could win.

Do you still have contact with them? If, yes, how?
I have lost contact with all my teachers. I met Mrs Simons at a funeral last year and she could not stop telling everyone how proud she was of me and how she taught me grade three many years ago.

What were your favourite subjects and why?
Geography, public speaking, macro-economics, political science, economic management, leadership and logic. I loved these subjects because they all taught me how to debate, provided me with a world view and increased my understanding of how the politics influence the economy.

From your point of view, what are the qualities of a good teacher?
For me these are some of the qualities that characterise an excellent teacher. A good teacher should:

  • Be well organised and make good use of time;
  • Invest in the success of the children he or she teaches;
  • Have passion and strive for excellence;
  • Be able to nourish a learner’s spirit and intellect;
  • Be creative and innovative and create an atmosphere where learners can be safe in exploring and questioning and be encouraged to think out of the box;
  • Be committed to going the extra mile; and
  • Show up for school day after day and patiently take learners step after step in a consistent manner in all subjects.

    What are the things a teacher should never do or say?
    A teacher should never tell a learner that he or she will never make it in life.

    What message do you have for teachers in South Africa?
    You are the windows of every learner’s future. Through you, learners can expand their world to fulfil their potential by the passion, creativity and spirit of excellence that you bring into the classroom. I wish teachers could see themselves as the compass that stimulates and guides curiosity, passion and knowledge in learners.