In 2003, I was working for an adult basic education and training (ABET) centre at the Makgane Primary School in Ga-Mogashoa village near Jane Furse Memorial Hospital in Sekhukhune, Limpopo.
I had a learner called Johannes Mogobane Tsoka. He was physically disabled and used a walking stick to help him cover a distance of about 3km from his home to the centre.
One day, Tsoka arrived at the centre at around 4.30pm, after our normal knock-off time. We were surprised by his late arrival and we advised him to return home as other learners were leaving.
His response hurt: “Ke a bona gore le a nkgetholla ka lebaka la gore ke segole. Lenna ke nyaka go rutwa, ga ke ye felo (I can see you are discriminating against me because of my disability. I’m not going anywhere. I, too, want to learn),” he said.
I took a deep breath as I exclaimed, “Ja, nee!” I then requested my colleagues to attend to him. They were reluctant because they were already preparing to go home. I took the keys and opened one of the classrooms to teach the old man. He was naturally excited that I had decided to accommodate his request.
Entering the classroom, he spontaneously rattled off the lines of a grade-one poem titled: “Nonyana tse pedi godimo ga sehlare” (Two birds on top of a tree).
The reaction of my colleagues was lukewarm to say the least, judging by the expressions on some of their faces. Sensing the mood, I urged the old man to continue with his rendition. After he finished, I complimented him and remarked that he could make a wonderful imbongi (praise singer).
I gave him some lessons and a class test afterwards, which he passed very well. He was so excited and said: “Wa bona! Ga ka tlela mahala fa, ke di kgonne” (You see, I didn’t waste time coming here; I got them all right).
Today, Tsoka has achieved his goal — which was to be able to read and write. He is able to read the Bible to his congregation as well as write his identity number. His achievement has encouraged other elders in the community to register for ABET classes.
The lesson I have learned here is that ABET educators need to have patience, show love, care and respect and always motivate their learners.
I enjoy working with adult learners because they always display commitment despite the fact that their mental sharpness is a bit dull — and I say this with due respect. It is more like working with pre-schoolers or grade R learners — you need huge doses of patience, commitment, love and trust. I realised by working with them that if you come down to their level they open up and become receptive to learning.
Caroline Ratau teaches at the Madibong ABET Centre near Jane Furse Memorial Hospital. She was a runner-up in the category of excellence in adult basic education and training in the 2008 National Teaching Awards