Nothing beats teaching with a passion
Abigail Makumela, 32, won the 2014 National Teachers' Award for the Early Childhood Development category. Picture: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Abigail Makumela, 32, won the 2014 National Teachers' Award for the Early Childhood Development category. Picture: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Durban -
“Seeing children who go from knowing nothing in the first term to being able to write when they leave at the end of the year… it’s amazing.”
Talking about her profession, it is evident that her passion for the children she teaches at Hopewell Primary School was the reason why teacher Abigail Makumela, 32, was given the 2014 National Teachers’ Award for Early Childhood Development (ECD).
Her modest beginnings give her insight into the struggles her pupils face every day.
“My family was poor. I had only my mom, who was a domestic worker, so she couldn’t afford to send me for tertiary education,” she says.
After matriculating from Heather Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg, Makumela volunteered at Kalinka Pre-School and was quickly offered a job as a teacher’s assistant in 2001 when the principal recognised her talents.
In an effort to better herself, Makumela attended every workshop on offer that year and, in 2002, she was given her own classroom.
Although she managed to complete a Further Education and Training (FET) certificate in ECD, her dream was to get a degree.
“I was earning so little and although I wanted to do a degree, I couldn’t afford it. But in 2009 I got a bursary and started my Bachelor in Education.”
For four years Makumela worked tirelessly as a Grade R teacher at her new job at Hopewell Primary School during term, while dedicating her holiday time to studying for her degree which she was awarded in 2012, achieving cum laude.
“Hopewell is in a very rural area and the environment was very different to Kalinka.
“There are 42 Grade Rs but, when I started, there were no resources, no furniture, just the classroom.”
At that stage, Makumela was working with the Department of Education as a facilitator of Grade R workshops and she called on the department to assist.
“They helped me with getting resources, as did my previous school Kalinka. I also made teaching items and bought some myself. If you’re passionate about teaching then you just want the best quality education for your learners.”
After being selected first in the district, regional and provincial rounds, Makumela was awarded the top spot in the country for ECD teaching last week. She was the only KwaZulu-Natal teacher to win a category award.
“It felt so great, but I was in shock. I’m really glad, especially for the school.”
The prize, valued at R200 000, includes an interactive whiteboard, computers and other electronic equipment for the school as well as skills training for the teachers.
“Teaching Grade 1 and Grade R is so important because we are laying the foundation. As with a house, if you don’t have a solid foundation, you can’t build a stable house.”