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About Vuleka School
“Vuleka is a Zulu
word which means “opening”.
Vuleka is also an
independent school offering quality education to
the previously disadvantaged children of South
Africa. It is a Christian school located on the
St Mark’s Anglican Church property and this is
the school that opened the doors to my teaching
career.
I qualified as a
teacher in 1997 and struggled for 10 years to
get employment, as my qualifications were not
readily recognized. I was depressed and my life
was falling apart. I prayed hard and never gave
up on my dreams of becoming an educator.
It was indeed a
miracle when I received a call to come to an
interview at Vuleka. I will never forget that
date. It was the 19th April 2007, when my life
was drastically changed for the better if not
the best. Vuleka took me in and offered me an
opportunity of a lifetime. I would serve an
internship in their Teacher Empowerment
Programme for a period of 2 years.
During this time,
I observed lessons in the classroom, helped with
group work and assisted children with their
reading. Later on, I was given some lessons to
teach whilst being mentored by my colleagues. I
will always be indebted to Vuleka for as long as
I live. They not only provided me with the
opportunity to teach but also the chance to
develop my teaching abilities.”
Internship and working
with Knowledge Network
“During my
internship period, I was privileged to be sent
on the Knowledge Network (ILAMM – Integrated
Learning and Mentoring Methodology developed by
Jil Hrdliczka in 1994) course. At that stage, I
could only type my name on the computer. I
really felt intimidated by having to attend and
was not sure that I would do well. After a day
or two of attending the course, I gained some
confidence. My Knowledge Network instructor
pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged
me to do well.
I became more
interested and practiced on the school computers
every afternoon, that which I had been taught.
My senior colleagues were supportive. They
allowed me to present lessons under their
guidance. In time, I became more confident and
started helping other teachers who also did not
have the necessary computer skills. We paired up
and presented Knowledge Network lessons
together.
I still do not
believe that I am actually qualified to present
computer lessons and help my colleagues with the
Knowledge Network programme.”
My childhood life
“I was born in
Germiston on the East Rand, where my mother
worked as a domestic worker. I was taken to
rural Limpopo to live with my granny at the age
of 4, because my mother’s employers did not want
her to live with her children on their property.
I started school
at Bakane Primary School in a village called
Ga-Matlala in Polokwane. When I was in Standard
2 (now Grade 4), my parents bought an empty
stand in the township of Mahwelereng, near
Potgietersrus, and built a shack for us to live
in. They left for work in Gauteng and only came
home once a month to visit my brother and I.
During this time,
I attended Maaka-Maleka Primary School and
proceeded to Ebenezer High School, where I
matriculated. After matric I enrolled at
Mokopane College to do my Teacher’s Diploma.
Growing up was
extremely difficult, particularly with my
parents being away at work. I had nothing but
God on my side and with his grace was able to
overcome the obstacles in life, ranging from
studying by candlelight to attending school
without shoes."
Today’s children
"Today’s children
are really privileged, as the new dispensation
has opened up doors. They can be whatever they
want to be, provided they put their minds to it.
Opportunities are
there for the taking. They have access to modern
learning tools such as computers. In my opinion,
computers should be used to teach all learning
areas, as modern society requires people not
only to be computer literate, but computer
educated, as they are an intrinsic part of
everyday life.
Research and the
gathering of information becomes a simple
process when using the computer and the
Internet, and I feel learners should spend more
time in the computer room doing just that."
My life is back on track
“My life at
Vuleka is so much more than what I have related
here. I have my dream career about which I am
passionate. I have my dignity and confidence
back and above all, I am now able to impart my
skills to the learners as well as some of my
colleagues.”
Freddy Makgato
Teacher - Grade 05 Class
Vuleka School – North Riding |
