Unpaid teacher dishes up distinctions

Engineer Kubeka has no teaching degree

His love for teaching and his passion for bettering the lives of rural pupils resulted in physical science teacher Sizwe Kubeka working for six months without getting paid. Now his dedication has been rewarded after six of the pupils in his physical science class of 33 obtained distinctions while none failed the subject.

As a result, Kubeka, 35, a qualified chemical engineer who teaches physical science at Thokoza High School in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, is hailed as a hero by villagers. For the past four years his class achieved a 100% pass rate and he was also honoured as the best teacher in his district.

“I applied for teaching after I struggled to get employment in my profession. I started teaching physical science in grades 10, 11 and 12. I believed if the pupils can ace this subject they will be exposed to many opportunities,” he said.

He said he always aimed to finish the year’s syllabus work within the first six months.

“After that we start revising and I also make them write weekly tests to prepare them for the final exams. We also have morning, afternoon and evening classes.

“We stay in a disadvantaged area and all I want is to see them getting a better future than us,” he said.

In June last year, Kubeka’s contract was terminated by the KwaZulu-Natal department of education.

“They were terminating contracts of all the educators without teaching qualifications in the province. Unfortunately, the decision came at a time when I was still busy studying a BEd [bachelor of education degree] with Unisa.

“After my contract was terminated I could not just abandon my pupils as they were looking up to me to help them produce good marks. I continued teaching even though I was not paid. It was difficult but I had to make sacrifices for these pupils who had their hopes on me.”

Kubeka, a father of one, said life became very difficult for him and his siblings had to step in and assist him financially.

“However, I know what I want to achieve in life and I understand this will soon pass as soon as I get my degree in teaching.”

His principal Lethukuthula Shabalala described Kubeka as one of the best teachers the school has ever had.

“It would be sad to permanently lose him, which is why I am trying to see if Unisa cannot credit him for the modules he passed when he studied his mechanical engineering.

“Even though there was not much we could do for him as the school but we would help him financially through raising funds,” Shabalala said.