NGONYAMA Primary School principal, Noluyolo Jadezweni ,described the school’s former teacher, Pumela Gobeni, as someone who was passionate and always had love for her learners. Gobeni retired last year after teaching for 33 years in this school.
Jadezweni confirmed that she started teaching there in 1987.
“We decided to host a farewell function for her today because of what she did for our learners and to us, as the teachers at this school.
Gobeni spent many years teaching at the foundation phase. Then she taught at the intermediate phase, when she taught geography at Grade 7; then isiXhosa at Grade 5, Grade 6 and Grade 7,” said Jadezweni.
She added that they would miss her because she left a gap that no-one can fill, due to redeployment. She described her as someone who liked her family from both her own home and her in-laws’.
Besides being a teacher, Gobeni was described as a good organiser. She was also the secretary for the school management team.
“She even served in the committee of welfare, where she was looking at how we are living as teachers, learners and even the society. We learnt love and unity from her.” Chairperson of the school governing body (SGB), Nothayile Tyeshani, said, if they had another alternative, they were not going to allow Gobeni to leave because of her good work. Tyeshani added that after she left last year, she donated shoes to some of the learners because she was very close to them.
“It is painful to watch her leaving but we have nothing we can do because it is her time to sit at home. Most of the parents here are not educated but today we have children who are well-educated because of her,” said Tyeshani.
Gobeni said that when she arrived at this school in 1987, there were no classrooms, but parents built one block.
When the school was extended to a junior senior secondary school, the government intervened and built another block.
“They know me very well. I liked to travel with my learners, which is one of the things that I will miss. Also I liked music very much. At the moment I am trying to look after my chickens but I will also join the organisation of the pensioners, here in Willowvale, to keep myself busy,” said Gobeni. She thanked the school management and the parents for what they had done for her.
