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It has been a while since Matjana Preschool has had a qualified teacher in Early Childhood Care, Education and Development (ECCD). Teacher Londi has qualifications in Psychosocial support which is very relevant, but doesn’t cover the educational aspect of ECCD. Last month, our teacher Khetsiwe started her formal training in ECCD in a college in Manzini.
Khetsiwe started teaching at Matjana preschool this year when she had a high school certificate. She was accepted at the ECCD training college some months back. However, the start of the college year was delayed due to COVID and Khetsiwe just started her classes in May.
It is Khetsiwe’s first time to be in a tertiary institution, so she is still trying to adjust from what she was used to at school. “I didn’t know what to expect on the first day but amongst all the things which happened I was surprised that they don’t question you when you are late, and you don’t ask for permission when you need to go to the bathroom for instance.”
She added that, her lecturers asked them to write their expectations. She is not sure what she wrote because she was expecting the lecturers to tell them what they expect from their students not the other way round. This is the norm in Eswatini schools.
“When I arrived on the first day, I didn’t know anyone, because we were coming from different areas. In class we just greeted each other and kept quiet until a lecturer came through”.Even though they didn’t talk to each other on the first day, the ECCD students already have good relationships.
“The people who I am with in the group are very friendly. Most of them are experienced preschool teachers but they didn’t have a qualification. We are planning to visit each other’s preschool as a way of seeing how they teach and what they have in their schools.”
This semester I’m taking three courses namely: Arts and Craft, Religious Education and Child Psychology. Each course is allocated 2 hours weekly, all on the same day, Thursday.
She attends college one day a week and work at preschool the other three day. On Friday she will stay in town and work with Pinky, a supporter of the preschool who will teach Khetsiwe how to do some of the administrative work for the school, such as recording finances and making the newsletter.
On the two days Khetsiwe is in town, our newest (but also oldest) preschool teacher will look after her students. Precious Shongwe worked at Matjana Preschool for few months when Ncobile was on maternity leave in 2013 and in 2020 she was the school chairlady. As a mum and grandma she has lots of experience working with young children and we’re pleased to welcome her back to the Matjana classroom.
