ADVERTISEMENT:
News - Date: 15 February 2008
The saying that one should labor in the sun in order to rest in the shade became a reality for the hardworking Mbilwi Secondary School educators this week. They gathered at the Venda Tusk Casino Hotel to celebrate their achievements and to plan for the year that lies ahead of them.
The principal of the school, Mr Nditsheni Ramugondo, said it had become a part of the school´s calendar that they meet as educators and supportive stakeholders to celebrate their achievements and have some leisure time chatting to each other as they hardly have that time at school." We dedicate all our time at school to academic work and we hardly have any free time to talk to each other; this is our time," he said jokingly.
Ramugondo said educators also needed to be motivated for the good job they were doing." We would not be the top school if it was not for these educators and this is a way of saying thank you," he said.
Mbilwi has been the top school in matric examinations in Limpopo since the dawn of democracy in 1994, scooping all awards that came their way. Of the 142 learners who wrote their examinations last year, 139 obtained exemptions and 3 got conditional exemptions. Nine learners made it to the provincial top 30, one came second in the province, three obtained full marks in physical science at higher grade while four obtained full marks in mathematics at higher grade. As if that was not enough, the school scooped all the MEC´s special awards last year.
The school also made history by becoming the first school in the province to be included in Club 100, a prestigious club started in 2006 by the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor and Deputy-President Mlambo Ncguka.
Asked as to what his secret of success was, Ramugondo said it was through team work and hard work that they have been succeeding all these years. He has some words of wisdom to share with all Mirror readers: "Start preparing for the exams from day one, attend all lessons during the school term, start preparing from the lower grades and finish the syllabus around August, then you will be assured of the best results," he said.
The traditional leader under which the school falls, Thovhele Vho Gole Mphaphuli, was also there to give some words of support. He commended the good leadership at the school as a contributory factor towards their successes throughout the years. "Keep up the good work of educating our children as education is the only weapon to fight poverty and bring development in our community," he said. "Your successes are not for you only as you brought our village to the limelight. Mbilwi is known everywhere because of you, and we have reasons to celebrate with you," he said. Mphaphuli, who himself completed his law studies last year, said the mother of all graduation parties will be held in order to motivate learners to take their education seriously. "What type of a leader can one be without education? Today’s people need educated leaders who are able to make informed decisions," he said.
He encouraged all the educators and their principal to work hard in order to maintain the standard they set." You are the light of the world - shine on," he said.
Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.
Search for a story:
ADVERTISEMENT
The economic conditions in Zimbabwe forced Tanaka Moyo (40) to legally seek greener pastures in Musina. He opted for a unique business plan, selling the wild jujube fruit to make a living. The fruit, called masau in Shona, is better known as mazwilu in Tshivenda.
As the unemployment rate in South Africa continued to rise, a group of women from Makonde village decided to start a community-based project to create job opportunities for themselves. However, it is very difficult to continue with the project without support from the government or the private sector.
At the age of 104, William Masindi Sadiki still has many stories to tell. Some of these are about his experiences during World War II, when he was part of the North Africa campaign. He is one of the few black soldiers from that era still alive, and he proudly pins his war medals on his chest on formal occasions.
The Rivoni School for the Blind in in Njakanjaka village in the Vhembe District has 167 learners from Grade R to Grade 12. The school was started in 2016 by the Rivoni Society for the Blind, founded in June 1975 at Elim Hospital by late Swiss doctor Erwin Sutter. The society later transferred responsibility for the school to the Department of Education.