The Eastern Cape needs experienced teachers to come back and share their skills, an education official told a group of retired teachers this week.
The Eastern Cape needs experienced teachers to come back and share their skills, an education official told a group of retired teachers this week.
The Grahamstown Retired Educators Association gathered at Fingo Village library on Wednesday 10 September to celebrate the organisation's sixth anniversary.
The retired teachers are active in their community and seek to engage with the province's troubled education system. President Mhlangabezi Mgolodela applauded the members, calling them unsung heroes who had left a rich legacy.
"Such gatherings afford our members the opportunities to refresh their value and appreciate each other," he said. A curriculum specialist from the Eastern Cape Education Department, Bongani Stamper, also saluted their work and encouraged them to continue to share their expertise.
"A teacher is someone who shares their experiences with those in need," he said.
"The Eastern Cape cannot always be the last in the matric results, we need experience from old people." Stamper urged the members to avail themselves when it comes to fighting for quality education.
"A teacher will only be satisfied when he or she sees the products of his actions," Stamper said.
Nomathamsanqa Ntisane, guest speaker, spoke about the importance of mantaining home languages, particularly isiXhosa, and encouraged them to teach it to children.
Ntisane asked the group for suggestions on how to preserve isiXhosa, as well as how to recover lost languages such as isiNama and isiXhama. A member suggested that they gather to write isiXhosa folktales.
Mgolodela told Grocotts Mail the organisation was formed to challenge government on issues of transparency and other matters that involve the community and them as retired teachers.
The slogan of the organisation is 'hlonipha', which means respect.
