We are pleased to welcome a new teacher, Khetsiwe Matsebula, who will join the Matjana team from the beginning of 2022. While we’re happy to welcome Khetiswe, we’re also sad about the reason that we need a new teacher. Qiniso Vilakati, who joined the Matjana team in 2018, has left the preschool, as part of a move to town.
Matjana Preschool has always tried to provide training opportunities that prepare our teachers for other work and better opportunities. However, it is never easy when a teacher actually leaves.
“It is so heartbreaking when someone you are used to having around leaves”, those were teacher Londi’s words. “Ncobile and Swane, they both left me and moved away. Now it’s Qiniso, who has moved to town and found a job working in a factory which produces oil. It’s sad. He was a good asset to the preschool.”
When Qiniso submitted his resignation, schools were closed. We were not sure when the government would announce the re-opening of schools, but decided to immediately advertise for a new teacher.
The school committee and parents decided to look for a new teacher who lived in the community and had vaccinated to protect against COVID-19. They also wanted a teacher who would be eligible to apply to enrol in Diploma of Early Childhood Education studies, so that we could continue the tradition of supporting our teacher by providing formal training opportunities. The training centre that provides the Diploma only accepts applications from prospective students who have received three or more credits in their high school results.
Once the selection criteria had been determined, we placed an advertisement at the local shop and maize mill. We asked parents and members of the school committee to spread the word that we were looking for a new teacher. Six young members of the community submitted applications
School committee members and teacher Londi interviewed the applicants asking them questions about (amongst other things) how they would work in the classroom and deal with COVID-19. They decided on Ms Khetsiwe Matsebula as Matjana’s new teacher.
Khetsiwe is 23 years old and has grown up in the Matjana community. She received four credits in her high school certificate and has already submitted her application to enrol in Diploma of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education studies at the Free Evangelical Association Training Centre. It’s the same place former teachers Ncobile, Swane and Fortunate got their qualifications. Khetsiwe will study part time, so that she can apply the learning from her Diploma in the preschool classroom and vice versa.
Khetsiwe will start teaching the Matjana kids from the beginning of 2022 (when we are hoping the school year will return to normal!). We are so much happy to have her joining our team and she’s also happy to find a job in her community, at a time when unemployment is worse than ever in Eswatini. “I finished school and got four credits, I love kids and am happy to be one of your team “, Khetsiwe said.