Wednesday 31 December 2014

MIEE2015 -Today's learners! Tomorrow's great scientists and thinkers

This is one of my learning activities I came up with as I was teaching in my class, grade 7 Economics and Management Sciences. One of my principles in teaching is that I do not teach but I expose some conditions of learning survival skills to learners so that through those skills ,they are able to learn what I am trying to convey. That can only happen if I use Project Based Learning approach.
During my times I use to listen to my teachers teaching, I will absorb their knowledge and reproduce it during tests, homework, classwork and examinations. Teacher centeredness, theory and academic achievements were the most important aspects in teaching and learning.
 
I learnt that today's generation differ a lot from us. You teach them, give the classwork ,home work and examination  about the work you taught them, they are unable to give the correct or relevant answers as required. When you teach them, they are unstable, fiddling with other things or loosing concentration. in such that this affect their performance at the end of the year hence high failure rate. I then realized that they cannot learn by absorbing the knowledge but by creating it hence project based learning approach.
 
It comes to my principles of saying we need to guide or expose learners to conditions that will assist them to acquire learning through things like technology tools. Not to teach them. One wiseman once said all learners  have wings . It is the duty of the educators to give them skills on how to fly.
Educators must be the wind beneath learners wings.
 
From the lesson I taught in class, I challenged learners to come up with innovative projects that can be used to fight poverty and bridge the gap between the have and the have not(Gini Co efficient)(inequality)
 
Through the help of Food and trees for Africa , University of Limpopo and Khanya Africa development services learners were able to come up with  an ointment that can be used by needy community members who cannot access professional services. Beside that they acquires skills and they sell the ointment to augment needy and unemployed community members who renders service in the school yard. The ointment is called "All purpose ointment"
 
Through this project I am sure of inspiring young scientists, doctors ,researchers , environmentalists and pharmacists.
Learners need survival skills for their future. The only way to secure their future is through PBL approach which emphasize more of practical work that theory.
 
NOT ONLY GREENING TECHNOLOGY BUT INFORMATION OMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. Learners are able to integrate their lesson with many apps from the Microsoft. apps like movie maker, auto collage, shape collage , skype, painting, songsmith, digital story telling using animation and many apps that they discovers themselves.
 
We are teaching a mobile nation. we need to turn the tide in order to learn more from learners.
For more information visit the following links:
 
 
 
 
 
-http://www.pil-network.com/profile/resources/483020f6-92bc-4682-921b-de015cd9c28f

( Presented in Barcelona  in 2014 march during Microsoft global conference)

 
Our country is in poverty of skilled people. Let s us groom our own and utilize them maximally. That is why the title of my project is Today's learners! Tomorrow's great thinkers and Scientists!
Proudly South African!!!
Thank you
Phuti Ragophala  the principal of Pula Madibogo primary school in Mankweng Limpopo province South Africa.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 7 November 2014


My e mail message from ANTHONY SALICITO MICROSOFT CO OPERATION VICE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON
Dear MIE Experts, 
Congratulations! You have been selected by Microsoft to be a member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Program for 2015! We are proud to have you as a part of this incredible group of 800 educators from over 100 countries around the globe.

 To see the amazing group you’ll be joining, take a look at the full list of MIE Experts HERE. If you do not see your name in the list by mid-November, please let us know. Email us with a link to your learning activity and we will be happy to add you.
As an MIE Expert, over the course of the next year you can expect:

   Free Microsoft tools and technology
 Exclusive professional development opportunities

  Opportunity to develop your personal “brand” and career as a thought leader by participating in case studies, speaking engagements and content development

 Eligibility to earn an all-expense paid trip to the Microsoft in Education Global Forum in Redmond, Washington in April 2015.

Throughout the year, we have fun and exciting plans for you! We made a promise to you and we plan to keep it! We would like to stay in touch with you and allow you to stay in touch with each other and learn from one another. We want to support you in your professional development, enable you to learn from each other and also work with you to build your brand.

 To start with, we would like to know more about you, understand your interests more and engage you in relevant opportunities. Please take a minute to fill out you details HERE.

 We will kick off our first Exclusive MIE Connection call with you on November 20, 2014 at 7 AM PST - 7:30 AM PST and/or 4:00 PM PST - 4:30 PM PST. Please register HERE to attend. This call is important to welcome you to this premiere program.

Again, CONGRATULATIONS on your selection as an MIE Expert. We are excited to be a part of your journey in creating an environment of innovation in education using technology.

 Best Regards,

id:image002.png@01CFEC77.83015640
Anthony Salcito

 Microsoft Corporation, Vice President

 Worldwide Public Sector – Education

Sunday 2 November 2014

Winners announced at South African school’s premier food gardening and greening competition

 

Winners announced at South African school’s premier food gardening and greening competition

Media Centre | Press Release | Corporate

 

Media Centre | Press Release | Corporate

Pula Madibogo, Limpopo - Fabulous food forest - Food & Trees for Africa

 

Pula Madibogo, Limpopo - Fabulous food forest - Food & Trees for Africa

Plak: Find and be found in South Africa - Google Maps for your website

Pula Madibogo Primary school map
Plak: Find and be found in South Africa - Google Maps for your website

Teachers magazine about Phuti ragophala- Education must be your first love


 
http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=G3xZLD4iVYc%3D&tabid=411&mid=1297

schoolnet report on ICT

 

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVjl.41VUk_AAQfQPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBzYm1lcmU1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTYEY29sbwNiZjEEdnRpZAM-/RV=2/RE=1414943742/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.schoolnet.org.za%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2014.06.30.Partners-in-Learning-Report-July-2012-June-2014.doc/RK=0/RS=m7_wm0GtV75jliwEyNwAs0KKjjk-

Learning about feeding your family, and no snakes [Star, The (South Africa)]

 

Learning about feeding your family, and no snakes [Star, The (South Africa)]

Techno reading project from Pula Madibogo Primary School in Limpopo South Africa - YouTube

 

Techno reading project from Pula Madibogo Primary School in Limpopo South Africa - YouTube

SchoolNet SA - IT's a Great Idea: Highlights from the Microsoft in Education Global Forum - Barcelona 11 – 14 March 2014

 

SchoolNet SA - IT's a Great Idea: Highlights from the Microsoft in Education Global Forum - Barcelona 11 – 14 March 2014

Library News | | Page 3

Techno reading with Julie Hembree

Library News | | Page 3

Saturday 1 November 2014

Early childhood project

 

http://www.dsd.gov.za/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=127&Itemid=3

Pula Madibogo Primary School – School in the Cloud

 

Pula Madibogo Primary School – School in the Cloud

Phuti Ragophala – School in the Cloud

 

Phuti Ragophala – School in the Cloud

FLEFF Intern Voices: Event: Africa is a Woman's Name - FLEFF - Ithaca College

FLEFF Intern Voices: Event: Africa is a Woman's Name - FLEFF - Ithaca College

Enter the Stars in Education Teachers Awards and stand a chance to win money towards your project! (News: 15-Oct-2014)

Enter the Stars in Education Teachers Awards and stand a chance to win money towards your project! (News: 15-Oct-2014)

SchoolNet SA - IT's a Great Idea: Highlights from the Microsoft in Education Global ...

SchoolNet SA - IT's a Great Idea: Highlights from the Microsoft in Education Global ...:   Presented by Megan Rademeyer The Microsoft in Education Global Forum recognizes and celebrates the achievements of educators who are p...

Meet the top of the teaching crop: Phuti Ragophala

Meet the top of the teaching crop: Phuti Ragophala

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Award winners set example at school


Award winners set example at school

 

TIRELESS community worker Phuti Rakgophala and her Pulamadibogo Permaculture Orphans and Vulnerable Resources Centre are shining examples of selflessness, sharing, caring and nurturing.

 


This humble winner of innovative early childhood development programmes in the 2009 South African ECD Awards is principal of the Pulamadibogo Primary School at Mankweng, east of Polokwane, in Limpopo.

This previous winner of the Premier's Award - among other kudos - is among several other award winners for academic and community-building excellence. The rest of the teaching staff and auxiliary workers at the school also carry an almost equal amount of dedication.

A former teacher at the school, David Modiba, is a former winner of the prestigious Aggrey Klaaste Maths, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Award. Modiba still keeps in touch with the school, explained Rakgophala in an interview at the school recently "because here we are a family and we all lead by example, both individually and collectively".

The other top achievers are Mmaphiri Mamabolo for the Edu Plant Greening Award, MP Motlhake and her team for having nurtured a world-winning schools rugby team and Stephina Rakgoale and her coaching team, who are in charge of a competitive schools cricket team.

Rakgophala, who was a finalist in the 2008 Shoprite Woman of the Year Award, said she, Modiba and other teachers and pupils have set the trend of giving part or all of their award proceeds to the school.

Rakgophala's R15000 prize money from the Premier's Award has been used for a palisade fence for safety and security.

"We have earmarked the R20 000 prize money from the ECD Awards for direly needed support materials for our pupils. Modiba's prize money was used to erect a new block," Rakgophala said.

Among other good things at the school, the parents have built four new classrooms. A local businessman, Solly Mohale, donated R12000 to help the parents.

We met parents Ephraim Thabane and Mamsy Mamabolo, who help around the school. Thabane takes care of the permaculture side of the school, ensuring that the school's poultry projects continue to feed destitute children and augment the school's coffers by selling eggs, chickens and fruits and vegetables to the community.

"We are also nurturing future pharmacists, biologists and agricultural scientists by ensuring that each pupil takes a turn in the gardens and the poultry sheds to learn about the herbs and the diverse farm produce," Rakgophala said.

Mamabolo helps keep the classrooms clean and with the sale of the fresh produce. Twenty-three other parents help the school with security, catering, cleaning and gardening.

One of the teachers, a man, inducting the school's eight ECD classes, is Dibakgeng Modiba. They use the latest innovative methods and this has ensured that their charges do well from Grade 1 onwards.

Reading, writing and competitive articulation is encouraged through books. Pupils buy books for only R3 each. Reading club-like sessions yield individual and group winners and the winners are given more books as prizes for their exemplary efforts.

One disturbing snag at the school is its asbestos roof. Asbestos causes asbestosis, inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos. Parents and teachers worry about whether the children are affected over the seven years they spend at Pulamadibogo before venturing to higher primary school.

·         The South African ECD Awards is a project of Absa, Sowetan, SABC Education, Unicef, South African Congress for ECD, the Jim Joel Fund and the national social development and basic education departments.

Limpopo does IT again




Limpopo does IT again


·          

·          

Phuti Ragophala is the second teacher from the province to win the Super Teacher Award.

A Limpopo school principal, Phuti Ragophala, scooped this year’s prestigious Super Teacher Award at a ceremony held at Montecasino in Fourways, Gauteng, recently.

Ragophala beat six other finalists to become the second teacher from Limpopo province to win the award, after Melia Moeketsi did so last year.

The award ceremony, hosted by the Internet Service Providers’ Association of South Africa (ISPA), is part of its association’s flagship initiative called Train the Teacher, which aims to “nurture high-quality” IT skills training in the country.

Teachers were invited to submit projects that could be used as tools to “promote and develop computer skills in their own schools and communities”. Ragophala’s project was judged to have fulfilled this requirement. She has also been exposed to the teacher training initiative.

Award winners receive prizes such as laptop computers, Blackberry smartphones and all-expenses-paid attendance at key IT conferences.
“I’m on top of the world,” said Ragophala. “The award makes me feel like a real superstar and it is an indication that hard work and ingenuity pay off in the end. I am really grateful to the organisers of the competition for giving us this platform to showcase projects that not only help our schools, but the broader community as well.”

The power of technology
She said she believed in the power of technology, not only for educational purposes, but for life in general. “I realise we are gradually becoming a paperless society. I make sure that my school embraces IT and we try to incorporate it into everything we do. My 32 teachers use computers to prepare lessons, enter learners’ marks and perform basic administrative duties.”

Ragophala said her 1 167 learners shared 40 computers and were showing growing confidence in using them to learn new things and do research for their academic work.

Her leadership extends beyond her school. She has started a poultry project which employs 25 community members and a food garden, all based within the school yard. The vegetables from the garden feed orphans and vulnerable learners, with some sold to generate income for the school.

“I teach the parents who work at the poultry project some basic computer skills. They have now acquired sufficient skills and can operate a computer to file, capture and record production activities and other related transactions.

“In the beginning, most of them could barely read and write and this proved to me that it is not qualifications that matter, but passion,” said Ragophala.

Two new awards were also handed out at the event: Trainer of the Year and ISPA ICT Champions. Sonnyboy Baloyi of Avuxeni Computer Academy won the former, while Barbara Heron of Parktown Boys’ High School in Johannesburg and Mmipe Mokgehle of Toronto Primary School in Limpopo won the latter.

Since its launch in 2001, the Train the Teacher programme has trained 2 238 teachers at more than 250 under-resourced and rural-based schools nationwide. A total of 26 projects were registered for the competition in the first phase of the awards.

Remarkable things unnoticed
The ISPA’s chairperson of the teacher training working group, Fiona Wallace, said she was “overawed” by the enthusiasm shown by teachers.
“This is our tenth anniversary and what we have been doing over the years was to train teachers in basic computer literacy. But in the course of this we realised there were those teachers who were doing remarkable things unnoticed, particularly in the rural parts of the country,” she said.

“These teachers display an amazing passion and most of them find themselves with no or very little support. They always go beyond the call of duty to take what we have given them to benefit their colleagues, learners and their immediate communities,” said Wallace.
Other finalists were: Thembi Mathobela, Adelaide Madiba and Alpheus Mogashoa, all from Toronto Primary School in Limpopo; Maoto Setaole of Mountainview Senior Secondary School in Limpopo; Judi Le Roux of Coffee Bay Christian Comprehensive School in the Eastern Cape and MJ Poopedi of Thokgwaneng Primary School in Limpopo.

Meanwhile, in a separate event held last month in Cape Town, Ragophala proved her technological savvy by bagging a Stars in Education award for her project for orphans and vulnerable children, which carried a prize of R10 000.

The awards are run by Argo, a multimedia communications company with a strong focus on education. Via Afrika is the sponsor while SABC’s commercial radio station, Metro FM, is a media partner.
 

ARGO article


Recognising past winners

2008:  Teacher recognised for taking the lead

The 2008 winner, Mokone Peter Mofokeng stood out for his commitment to go beyond the duties of the classroom to develop an ‘Alternatives to Violence’ programme to assist the youth at Motswela Secondary School (Maokeng, Kroonstad) in dealing with violence in the classroom.

One Monday morning, Mokone Peter Mofokeng was startled to hear that the previous Friday a teenage boy was severely assaulted by a teenage gang armed with knobkierries. As a result, Mofokeng partnered with a pastor from the area to develop workshops called ‘Alternatives to Violence’, to mentor the boys and provide them with the life skills and self esteem to help prevent gangsterism and violence.

Mr Mofokeng took the initiative and went for training as a workshop facilitator. He then took these skills and trained teachers at Matseripe Secondary School in Ventersberg to do the same. Together they ran workshops with 38 teenage boys and by 2008 they had 200 teenage learners and teachers who had completed the workshop.

The ‘Alternatives to Violence’ Programme still continues. The R10 000 prize money awarded by Argo for winning the Stars in Education Awards in recognition of his work went towards funding venues for future workshops.

“These young men are natural leaders. The difference is that before they were leading in gangs and now they lead in a good way,” - Mr Mofokeng.

Mr Mofokeng’s love for his work and recognition as one of our ‘Stars in Education’ encouraged him to continue the good work. In January 2012 he celebrated his 25th year in teaching and can still be found boldly leading the young men of Motswela Secondary School into a future knowing that violence isn’t the only solution. 

2009 - The Stars in Education winner shines at Education Week

The energy around the Stars in Education campaign started to grow with youth getting involved in recognising their star teachers on the Hectic 99 youth TV show, on radio and by entering on www.SAstudy.co.za and via the Q-ONE Student Diary and ACE Matric Guide. The campaign was also extensively advertised in the National Teachers Diary, and supported by leading education NGO’s, who encouraged entries from teachers. The level of entries showed growth and the quality of the entries astounded the judging panel, which included a range of education leaders. The judges were moved to tears as they read about the work that the teachers were doing in communities far removed from their own.

In 2009 the winner of The Stars in Education Awards was recognised at a lunchtime function at Education Week held at the Vodadome in Midrand, Johannesburg, which had an audience of over 500 education leaders.  Our winner, Mologadi Priscilla Maluleke was nominated by a learner, Khomotso Marakalla, who said this of her teacher ‘Mam’ Maluleke:“She is my mother and teacher, she cares for us as OVC’s and helps us with home activities, school uniforms, food parcels, presents and more”.

Mam Maluleke trained as an HIV Care worker in 2008 and in 2009 set up the Bophelong HIV and AIDS support group. A member of the group writes “I am well because of her” and that she is a woman with “perseverance and love”. Her entry included detailed records of her many visits to dozens of orphans and vulnerable children. One report tells of her helping a child after abuse and organising papers for children so they can receive grants. Her work extends to helping children with their homework, taking them to the clinic if they are sick, providing for them through a vegetable garden, organising eye tests and requesting support from community members and local businesses.

At the luncheon event at Education Week, Mologadi Maluleke moved the audience to tears when she received her prize of R10 000 from Argo, by showing her commitment to her learners, with her promise: “I’m going to use it to bring their happiness back!”

In 2012, we caught up with ‘Mam’ Maluleke. When asked if she is still teaching, she enthusiastically answered that her project had gone from strength to strength, growing in the way community members were educated about HIV – which goes hand in hand with supporting learners orphaned as a result of HIV. The prize money went towards buying the children calculators to practice maths, educational toys, puzzles and charts and posters for the classrooms. The OVC’s after-school classroom was also equipped with ironing boards and a kettle to better care for the children in the afternoons. Most importantly, she reports that the competition made a real difference to the community’s view of the centre, who now say the children no longer feel like orphans because of the centre. The members of the community have been motivated to come and help care for the children, cleaning the centre and mending the children’s clothing.

“The children are really interested in coming every afternoon and the little ones love playing very much”, says Mologadi.

One project need Mrs Maluleke reports is equipment like sewing machines and fabric so that HIV positive people can work and be kept busy.

2010 - Taking the Stars in Education awards to the community in which the teacher works

In 2010, Argo wanted to recognise the teacher in their community, to encourage community support for teachers. Argo arranged with the school principal of New West Secondary School to create a special assembly on 5 October 2010 (World Teachers’ Day) to present the winner, Roslyn Narain, with her award for her extraordinary contribution to her learners and her community. She was nominated by a learner, Shiksha Lutchmipersadh, who wrote of how her teacher had inspired her to get involved in projects herself. She was inspired by Mrs Narain’s dedication to various projects including a centre focused on teaching elderly members of the community to read and write.

In Roslyn’s case, we saw again how a dark moment could trigger the inspiration needed for a teacher to take action. Mrs Narain was moved to ask a learner about his depression and recent suicide attempt. “I just want my father to love me” was the learner’s desperate reply. Knowing she could not answer that need, Roslyn responded by developing a programme where toys were distributed to a local hospital and she asked the boy to be Father Christmas. In giving love to others, his self esteem was boosted and a “light bulb” went on for Roslyn Narain – her life was changed as she sought to impact the lives of others in many new ways.

The project that caught Stars in Education Awards judge’s attention was RAFAL – Roslyn’s Academy for Adult Learning, an ABET project answering the desperate need for Roslyn’s elderly neighbours in her community to learn to read and write. Roslyn started out as a volunteer educator in the National Government Literacy Programme called Khar Ri Gude in 2009. She then started her own academy with the help of sponsors and community members of Phoenix in 2010. One elderly woman in her early eighties commented “because of her I can read my name for the first time” and her family commented that since she had attended the classes she was more cheerful and suffered from fewer ailments. 

2011 - Recognition from SACE and education leaders

In 2011, the winners of the Stars in Education Awards were honoured at a South African Council for Educators (SACE) Gala Event in Cape Town on 7 October. SACE sponsored the attendance of the finalists at the event and invited them to attend the SACE Teachers Roundtable where they learned about the latest trends and issues in education and networked with education leaders, to share their insights on education. A film crew were also sent to the school to film the award presentation at a special assembly, to celebrate World Teacher’s Day.

THE WINNER: Phuti Ragophala from Pula Madibogo Primary School, Mankweng, Limpopo, Itsosheng.

Project: Permaculture and OVC Care Centre, IT Teach a Teacher project
“One day around 2002 a teacher came to me and reported a girl who was shivering and faint. She had not eaten the night before. We started to take her aside and give her food before class started”. - Phuti Ragophala, her teacher and the principal of the school, describes the moment that sparked a journey into a many-faceted project including permaculture, a chicken farm and community IT classes. The project addresses the hunger and need experienced by orphans and unemployed people in her Limpopo community.

“It is often that a teacher does not recognise the needy children. These children will not speak up; we need to be watching for the signs”.

Phuti Ragophala applies her energy and ideas to answering the needs of orphans in her area “What can I say, I am a woman, it feels like these children come from my own stomach!” she says with a smile.  Phuti makes every effort to recognise the unflagging dedication of her team of teachers and community team without whom she could never have turned an ex-rubbish dump into what Phuti calls “a forest of food”.

Over the years Phuti has dedicated her time to Eco schools competitions, selecting girls for the Oprah Winfrey Academy, organising school career days, encouraging the ‘adoption’ of orphaned learners, supporting prisoner’s learning and teaching teachers in other schools about IT. Her latest focus is a project which encourages anyone with knowledge to Teach-a-Teacher about IT. This passion won her the ISPA Super Teacher of the year a week before she received Stars in Education Award and a month later was recognised by the a special award from the CPSI (Centre for Public Service Innovation) from the office of the Minister of Public Works and Administration, Roy Padayachee for Selfless Leadership and Innovative Work in the Public Sector. About her passion for IT, Phuti quotes the saying “If you want to shoot birds, shoot where they are going, not where they are”, meaning that one must work with a vision of the future and be willing to change with the times.

Though many in surrounding rural Mankweng may face desperate levels of unemployment and HIV, the overriding feeling at Pula Madibogo Primary is that of enthusiasm and hope as Phuti’s passion overflows and seeks to influence high schools and the community at large.

2012 - Sponsors give the Awards greater impact

These inspirational stories of ordinary teachers doing extraordinary work and taking the lead in making a difference in their communities have encouraged industry leaders to get involved in supporting the Stars in Education awards, as it continues to recognise how teachers inspire others. Transnet Foundation, Mindset Learn, Macmillan, Cell C, The Star and MetroFM have taken the lead in recognising the vital role that teachers play in our communities.

Recognising past winners

2008:  Teacher recognised for taking the lead

The 2008 winner, Mokone Peter Mofokeng stood out for his commitment to go beyond the duties of the classroom to develop an ‘Alternatives to Violence’ programme to assist the youth at Motswela Secondary School (Maokeng, Kroonstad) in dealing with violence in the classroom.

One Monday morning, Mokone Peter Mofokeng was startled to hear that the previous Friday a teenage boy was severely assaulted by a teenage gang armed with knobkierries. As a result, Mofokeng partnered with a pastor from the area to develop workshops called ‘Alternatives to Violence’, to mentor the boys and provide them with the life skills and self esteem to help prevent gangsterism and violence.

Mr Mofokeng took the initiative and went for training as a workshop facilitator. He then took these skills and trained teachers at Matseripe Secondary School in Ventersberg to do the same. Together they ran workshops with 38 teenage boys and by 2008 they had 200 teenage learners and teachers who had completed the workshop.

The ‘Alternatives to Violence’ Programme still continues. The R10 000 prize money awarded by Argo for winning the Stars in Education Awards in recognition of his work went towards funding venues for future workshops.

“These young men are natural leaders. The difference is that before they were leading in gangs and now they lead in a good way,” - Mr Mofokeng.

Mr Mofokeng’s love for his work and recognition as one of our ‘Stars in Education’ encouraged him to continue the good work. In January 2012 he celebrated his 25th year in teaching and can still be found boldly leading the young men of Motswela Secondary School into a future knowing that violence isn’t the only solution. 

2009 - The Stars in Education winner shines at Education Week

The energy around the Stars in Education campaign started to grow with youth getting involved in recognising their star teachers on the Hectic 99 youth TV show, on radio and by entering on www.SAstudy.co.za and via the Q-ONE Student Diary and ACE Matric Guide. The campaign was also extensively advertised in the National Teachers Diary, and supported by leading education NGO’s, who encouraged entries from teachers. The level of entries showed growth and the quality of the entries astounded the judging panel, which included a range of education leaders. The judges were moved to tears as they read about the work that the teachers were doing in communities far removed from their own.

In 2009 the winner of The Stars in Education Awards was recognised at a lunchtime function at Education Week held at the Vodadome in Midrand, Johannesburg, which had an audience of over 500 education leaders.  Our winner, Mologadi Priscilla Maluleke was nominated by a learner, Khomotso Marakalla, who said this of her teacher ‘Mam’ Maluleke:“She is my mother and teacher, she cares for us as OVC’s and helps us with home activities, school uniforms, food parcels, presents and more”.

Mam Maluleke trained as an HIV Care worker in 2008 and in 2009 set up the Bophelong HIV and AIDS support group. A member of the group writes “I am well because of her” and that she is a woman with “perseverance and love”. Her entry included detailed records of her many visits to dozens of orphans and vulnerable children. One report tells of her helping a child after abuse and organising papers for children so they can receive grants. Her work extends to helping children with their homework, taking them to the clinic if they are sick, providing for them through a vegetable garden, organising eye tests and requesting support from community members and local businesses.

At the luncheon event at Education Week, Mologadi Maluleke moved the audience to tears when she received her prize of R10 000 from Argo, by showing her commitment to her learners, with her promise: “I’m going to use it to bring their happiness back!”

In 2012, we caught up with ‘Mam’ Maluleke. When asked if she is still teaching, she enthusiastically answered that her project had gone from strength to strength, growing in the way community members were educated about HIV – which goes hand in hand with supporting learners orphaned as a result of HIV. The prize money went towards buying the children calculators to practice maths, educational toys, puzzles and charts and posters for the classrooms. The OVC’s after-school classroom was also equipped with ironing boards and a kettle to better care for the children in the afternoons. Most importantly, she reports that the competition made a real difference to the community’s view of the centre, who now say the children no longer feel like orphans because of the centre. The members of the community have been motivated to come and help care for the children, cleaning the centre and mending the children’s clothing.

“The children are really interested in coming every afternoon and the little ones love playing very much”, says Mologadi.

One project need Mrs Maluleke reports is equipment like sewing machines and fabric so that HIV positive people can work and be kept busy.

2010 - Taking the Stars in Education awards to the community in which the teacher works

In 2010, Argo wanted to recognise the teacher in their community, to encourage community support for teachers. Argo arranged with the school principal of New West Secondary School to create a special assembly on 5 October 2010 (World Teachers’ Day) to present the winner, Roslyn Narain, with her award for her extraordinary contribution to her learners and her community. She was nominated by a learner, Shiksha Lutchmipersadh, who wrote of how her teacher had inspired her to get involved in projects herself. She was inspired by Mrs Narain’s dedication to various projects including a centre focused on teaching elderly members of the community to read and write.

In Roslyn’s case, we saw again how a dark moment could trigger the inspiration needed for a teacher to take action. Mrs Narain was moved to ask a learner about his depression and recent suicide attempt. “I just want my father to love me” was the learner’s desperate reply. Knowing she could not answer that need, Roslyn responded by developing a programme where toys were distributed to a local hospital and she asked the boy to be Father Christmas. In giving love to others, his self esteem was boosted and a “light bulb” went on for Roslyn Narain – her life was changed as she sought to impact the lives of others in many new ways.

The project that caught Stars in Education Awards judge’s attention was RAFAL – Roslyn’s Academy for Adult Learning, an ABET project answering the desperate need for Roslyn’s elderly neighbours in her community to learn to read and write. Roslyn started out as a volunteer educator in the National Government Literacy Programme called Khar Ri Gude in 2009. She then started her own academy with the help of sponsors and community members of Phoenix in 2010. One elderly woman in her early eighties commented “because of her I can read my name for the first time” and her family commented that since she had attended the classes she was more cheerful and suffered from fewer ailments. 

2011 - Recognition from SACE and education leaders

In 2011, the winners of the Stars in Education Awards were honoured at a South African Council for Educators (SACE) Gala Event in Cape Town on 7 October. SACE sponsored the attendance of the finalists at the event and invited them to attend the SACE Teachers Roundtable where they learned about the latest trends and issues in education and networked with education leaders, to share their insights on education. A film crew were also sent to the school to film the award presentation at a special assembly, to celebrate World Teacher’s Day.

THE WINNER: Phuti Ragophala from Pula Madibogo Primary School, Mankweng, Limpopo, Itsosheng.

Project: Permaculture and OVC Care Centre, IT Teach a Teacher project
“One day around 2002 a teacher came to me and reported a girl who was shivering and faint. She had not eaten the night before. We started to take her aside and give her food before class started”. - Phuti Ragophala, her teacher and the principal of the school, describes the moment that sparked a journey into a many-faceted project including permaculture, a chicken farm and community IT classes. The project addresses the hunger and need experienced by orphans and unemployed people in her Limpopo community.

“It is often that a teacher does not recognise the needy children. These children will not speak up; we need to be watching for the signs”.

Phuti Ragophala applies her energy and ideas to answering the needs of orphans in her area “What can I say, I am a woman, it feels like these children come from my own stomach!” she says with a smile.  Phuti makes every effort to recognise the unflagging dedication of her team of teachers and community team without whom she could never have turned an ex-rubbish dump into what Phuti calls “a forest of food”.

Over the years Phuti has dedicated her time to Eco schools competitions, selecting girls for the Oprah Winfrey Academy, organising school career days, encouraging the ‘adoption’ of orphaned learners, supporting prisoner’s learning and teaching teachers in other schools about IT. Her latest focus is a project which encourages anyone with knowledge to Teach-a-Teacher about IT. This passion won her the ISPA Super Teacher of the year a week before she received Stars in Education Award and a month later was recognised by the a special award from the CPSI (Centre for Public Service Innovation) from the office of the Minister of Public Works and Administration, Roy Padayachee for Selfless Leadership and Innovative Work in the Public Sector. About her passion for IT, Phuti quotes the saying “If you want to shoot birds, shoot where they are going, not where they are”, meaning that one must work with a vision of the future and be willing to change with the times.

Though many in surrounding rural Mankweng may face desperate levels of unemployment and HIV, the overriding feeling at Pula Madibogo Primary is that of enthusiasm and hope as Phuti’s passion overflows and seeks to influence high schools and the community at large.

2012 - Sponsors give the Awards greater impact

These inspirational stories of ordinary teachers doing extraordinary work and taking the lead in making a difference in their communities have encouraged industry leaders to get involved in supporting the Stars in Education awards, as it continues to recognise how teachers inspire others. Transnet Foundation, Mindset Learn, Macmillan, Cell C, The Star and MetroFM have taken the lead in recognising the vital role that teachers play in our communities.

Award winners set example at school


Award winners set example at school

 

TIRELESS community worker Phuti Rakgophala and her Pulamadibogo Permaculture Orphans and Vulnerable Resources Centre are shining examples of selflessness, sharing, caring and nurturing.

This humble winner of innovative early childhood development programmes in the 2009 South African ECD Awards is principal of the Pulamadibogo Primary School at Mankweng, east of Polokwane, in Limpopo.

This previous winner of the Premier's Award - among other kudos - is among several other award winners for academic and community-building excellence. The rest of the teaching staff and auxiliary workers at the school also carry an almost equal amount of dedication.

A former teacher at the school, David Modiba, is a former winner of the prestigious Aggrey Klaaste Maths, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Award. Modiba still keeps in touch with the school, explained Rakgophala in an interview at the school recently "because here we are a family and we all lead by example, both individually and collectively".

The other top achievers are Mmaphiri Mamabolo for the Edu Plant Greening Award, MP Motlhake and her team for having nurtured a world-winning schools rugby team and Stephina Rakgoale and her coaching team, who are in charge of a competitive schools cricket team.

Rakgophala, who was a finalist in the 2008 Shoprite Woman of the Year Award, said she, Modiba and other teachers and pupils have set the trend of giving part or all of their award proceeds to the school.

Rakgophala's R15000 prize money from the Premier's Award has been used for a palisade fence for safety and security.

"We have earmarked the R20 000 prize money from the ECD Awards for direly needed support materials for our pupils. Modiba's prize money was used to erect a new block," Rakgophala said.

Among other good things at the school, the parents have built four new classrooms. A local businessman, Solly Mohale, donated R12000 to help the parents.

We met parents Ephraim Thabane and Mamsy Mamabolo, who help around the school. Thabane takes care of the permaculture side of the school, ensuring that the school's poultry projects continue to feed destitute children and augment the school's coffers by selling eggs, chickens and fruits and vegetables to the community.

"We are also nurturing future pharmacists, biologists and agricultural scientists by ensuring that each pupil takes a turn in the gardens and the poultry sheds to learn about the herbs and the diverse farm produce," Rakgophala said.

Mamabolo helps keep the classrooms clean and with the sale of the fresh produce. Twenty-three other parents help the school with security, catering, cleaning and gardening.

One of the teachers, a man, inducting the school's eight ECD classes, is Dibakgeng Modiba. They use the latest innovative methods and this has ensured that their charges do well from Grade 1 onwards.

Reading, writing and competitive articulation is encouraged through books. Pupils buy books for only R3 each. Reading club-like sessions yield individual and group winners and the winners are given more books as prizes for their exemplary efforts.

One disturbing snag at the school is its asbestos roof. Asbestos causes asbestosis, inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos. Parents and teachers worry about whether the children are affected over the seven years they spend at Pulamadibogo before venturing to higher primary school.
The South African ECD Awards is a project of Absa, Sowetan, SABC Education, Unicef, South African Congress for ECD, the Jim Joel Fund and the national social development and basic education depart

Meet the top of the teaching crop: Phuti Ragophala


Meet the top of the teaching crop: Phuti Ragophala

2011-10-16 10:00


Phuti Ragophala, a 53-year-old Limpopo school principal and married mother of three,has won this year’s prestigious Stars in Education award. Picture: Lebogang Makwela


When Phuti Ragophala noticed growing numbers of poor learners, orphans and unemployed parents linked to her school seven years ago, she knew it was time to do something about it.

The 53-year-old Limpopo school principal established a community farming project at her Pula-madibong Primary School in Mankweng, east of Polokwane, to help impart skills and create jobs for the mostly illiterate locals.

The married mother of three, a teacher for the past 24 years, wanted to use the Pula-madibong Itsoseng Permaculture Orphans and Vulnerable Children Resource Centre to help reduce the level of poverty by growing and selling vegetables and herbs, and raising chickens for sale.

“Learners from impoverished families were here. Torn school uniforms! No shoes! No what! All those challenges were facing me as principal. As a principal, I must make sure everyone is developed,” Ragophala said.

Ragophala’s efforts were rewarded this week when she walked away with the prestigious Stars in Education 2011 award.

Organised by the South African Council of Education, it celebrates the outstanding contribution that teachers make to the lives of our youth.

According to the Cape Town-based organisation, she was recognised “for turning a former dumping site into
what she calls a forest of food that benefits community members, orphans and neighbouring schools”.

Not bad for someone who became a teacher after failing to be admitted to nursing college.

Ragophala, who walked between 15km and 30km to school when she was a primary school pupil back home in Bochum, mobilised successful former learners of Pula-madibogo to give back to the community by adopting poor learners. So far, eight learners have been adopted.

She also organised computer training for her school’s 25 support staff members – illiterate and unemployed parents who had been volunteering for many years as labourers, cleaners and security guards in exchange for stipends.

Carthbertina Mothiba (39), a volunteer since 2007, said she was now able to use a computer to draw up budgets, type, write minutes and keep records.

“My wish is to be hired as a clerk at the school one day. That is my dream,” she said.

Jerrica Kgopa (13), a Grade?7 learner, said she already knew “how to type and store documents on the computer”.

A proud Ragophala said: “It’s quite amazing. I got two big awards within two weeks. What amazed the judges was that the unemployed parents, the so-called illiterate parents, are able to integrate IT with the sweeping, cleaning and running of the project. It is possible.”

Because the rules of the competition demanded that the R10?000 prize money be used for the development of the school’s support staff members, Ragophala decided to divide it among them, adding they will get R400 each.

“I enter competitions, but I do not use the money. I give it to them. But I said that the money must be used for the school needs of their kids. I want to see tangible things,” Ragophala added.

Ragophala, who holds a diploma in project management from Unisa, plans to retire in two years’ time and register a non-profit organisation to help poor beneficiaries of the country’s land restitution programme.

- City Press