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Matjana Preschool students returned to commence their second term of learning on May 8. The teachers were excited to be back with their students, after a two week holiday from the antics of the classroom.
Despite their claims that, “Bekumnandzi kuhlala ekhaya ngoba nyalo kumakhata” (I enjoyed being at home since now it’s cold), the students also seemed to enjoy being back. And they hadn’t forgotten how to make the teachers and their fellow learners laugh their lungs out over the break.
One of the things the Matjana students learn about throughout the year is the changing seasons, and the first theme to start term 2, was Winter. And one of their first lessons about the coldest season of the year was that, “Kusebusika vele manje kepha loko akusho kutsi ungeti esikolweni” (Its winter now but you must still come to school).
And why wouldn’t they want to come to school? Despite the cold, winter lessons can be lots of fun. For example the kids have so far been exploring the outdoor environment and collecting the brown, drying leaves off the trees. They had fun crumbling the leaves up and gluing the crumbs on trees drawn in their notebooks. They marvellously outdid this exercise.
And we’re sure that’s just the start of the winter fun, with our new teacher Qiniso, at Matjana Preschool!
Qiniso’s proving men can teach and care for kids to!
Teaching and caring for kids in Swaziland (like most places) is highly gendered. It’s seen as women’s work. So we’re pleased to welcome Qiniso Vilakati, Matjana’s first ever male teacher.
“I’m 24 years old and I grew up In Kaphunga,” Qiniso said. “My main objective as a teacher at Matjana is to help the pupils learn so that they can be good students in their primary level. I am looking forward to being a teacher here and I hope I will have the opportunity to continue with my studies and become qualified. I want to be a part of making Matjana the best preschool in Swaziland and attracting more students.
He’ll have a big task ahead of him, filling the gap left by teacher Ncobile, but he’s enthusiastic about working with and learning from teacher’s Swane (our new head teacher) and Londiwe (who will continue developing her child development skills through tertiary studies in social work which commence in July).
But Swane and Londi report Qiniso’s very capable, even though, “it’s quite strange in our community to have a male preschool teacher. And Qiniso is our first ever male teacher at Matjana Preschool.”
Qiniso said his first days as a preschool teacher were filled with laughter and surprises. “The pupils were so funny! When they were singing everyone wanted to lead the song and sing loudly, so that sometimes I ended up not understanding the song. During the songs that needed them to makes actions, everyone was doing his or her best in dancing. I think they were trying to show me that they can dance nicely.
I was so excited to see how the teachers worked, acting as if they are kids. They were playing around, jumping when it was necessary, doing all the things they wanted the kids to do. They were running when the games needed them to run. So I was impressed. They are so active and I see that being a preschool teacher needs lots of energy. But it is also so much fun!”
And Qiniso’s happy to be breaking gender stereotypes. “I know it’s kind of strange for a man to be teaching preschool in Swaziland. But I’m happy to be doing something different and showing people that even men can teach and care for children,” Qiniso said.
Fundraising Update
Thanks to everyone who has supported our operations over during the past months, especially the Armidale-Dumeresq Lions Club and Sepp and Barb. We’re pleased to announce that we have a promise from Micro Projects to cover the costs of finishing our second classroom– and we eagerly await receiving the materials they will buy for us. However we have run out of money to cover our day to day expenses, and need your support as much as ever in the lead up to opening our second classroom. If you can, please donate!