SAMUEL Nongogo Primary School’s head of department and life skills educator, Armstrong Mzodumo ‘Mchenge’ Mfunda, made up his mind to introduce a march and drill programme to Charles Duna Primary School in 2015, when he was a post level one educator.
Mfunda, who is passionate about what he is doing, played soccer and rugby, and was a top athlete during his youth days. Since his involvement with the march and drill programme, Mfunda has become the facilitator and a steering committee member for the Nelson Mandela District Schools’ March and Drill Programme.
Mfunda has extended the programme to Motherwell, Zwide, Northern Areas and Kwazakhele schools.
According to Mfunda, the programme is a safer schools programme in partnership with the Department of Education (provincial), SAPS, SANDF, Go Big and Department of Correctional Services.
Mfunda said, “The aims and objectives of this programme are to develop learners physically and academically by instilling precision, discipline, respect and self-esteem in the school environment. It also helps mainly to curb bullying and stop violent behaviour, especially involving the learners with special educational needs.
“The programme is a major event in the sports calendar.
“The provincial eliminations, which also feature some of the Western Cape schools, have become a centre of attraction. Some areas like Makhanda, OR Tambo, Maluti and Lusikisiki have partnered as well.”
Mfunda guided the schools he worked with (Charles Duna Primary, Samuel Nongogo Primary and Cowan High) to win more than 50 trophies between 2015 to 2019.
Some of Mfunda’s achievements, with Charles Duna in Mitchells Plain in 2015, were that he helped the school to win the first place drum major, second place uniform, second place exhibition and third overall position and become the first primary school from the Eastern Cape to perform this well in the competition.
Cowan High School, under the mentorship of Mfunda, managed to dethrone Tafelsig High School after winning five trophies in all categories in Mitchells Plain.
Samuel Nongogo Primary is the most famous school in march and drill, as Mfunda helped them to win, coming joint first in the point exhibition together with Harvester Primary School. They finished third in overall points and fourth in march past.
His school has demonstrated their marching and drill skills in many functions across the region.
Despite challenges, Mfunda thanked all the people who supported him.
