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| Nothando believes that children are out future |
NOTHANDO
MASEMULA is an aspirant child psychologist who also eyes the prospect of the
post of the minister of education. She runs the Sisonke After School project
for learners in Etwatwa but, oddly, she plans to have no children of her own.
Her mission is to help children reach for their dreams and to thrive in the
world that promises so much but is littered with obstacles and variables. She
opens her heart and talks to Thembi Masser about the state of education in SA
and of the support her child psychologist aunt has given her from the very
beginning.
At only 26 Nothando is determined to be a
champion and a God-send for children. Her project, Sisonke, which she started
running from August 2015, aims to work with learners right from grade 1 right
up to grade 12. That project holds tutorials at a public library
every afternoon during week days. Sisonke helps learners with their homework,
subject improvement and providers assistance in career advancement.
“At present,” she points out, “the education
system is in shambles.” She says there is a lack of communication between
teachers and learners. “Teachers are not adequately trained in the curriculum
and therefore there is a vacuum between them and the children.”
Nothando has completed a teacher’s diploma
at Unisa. She is currently busy with an advanced certificate in the discipline.
“Later I will do child psychology because that is where it all leads.”
She explains that her diploma and certificate
will be converted into a degree and then she will do her honours in psychology.
But she is also a logistics drop-out. “You see I was pressured to do logistics
after completing my matric because I was indecisive about my next move at the
time.”
Her mother, Lillian, an ex-nurse, and her
aunt, a child psychologist and an ex-teacher, wanted her to do something
worthwhile. They were keen that I become someone ‘important’. “My aunt
suggested logistics.” So Nothando enrolled
at Unisa for a three year diploma in logistics. But after only a year she quit.
“It was not for me. When I looked in the mirror I saw a vast difference between
Nothando and logistics.”
However, logistics did not fade into thin
air as fast as she hoped it will. She went on a learnership at Germanlogistics
company Dachser as an import controller. But that did ignite a spark to
continue with her short-lived career.
She also did an internship with glass
company PFG as a training administrator. In between, she did her teaching
practicals at Creative Foundations and Training. “And now I am a qualified
facilitator.”
Although training as a teacher was the one
thing uppermost in her mind, she had other things that she had to do off the classroom
after she dropped out of the logistics studies. In that ‘gap year’, she, among
other things, ventured out to explore life in Mozambique. There she intended to
open a gym. However, it did not materialize. “But I enjoyed the beaches. I was particularly intrigued by the scenery
in Shama-Nkulu and Alton Maje and Costa do Sol and Maputo. It was heaven on
earth.”
“But mosquitos spoilt the fun, they are a
problem there,” she frowns, “and they seemed to bite only me instead of the
locals,” she says, laughing.
Establishing Sisonke has not been an easy
ride. It was hell, she says. Even now, she continues, parents are skeptical of
her. “I can assure you it is only because of my age. They take one look at me
and then look at me in wonder.”
Sisonke also has no credible meeting place,
a home, a venue. At present they operate out of a public library where they
have to make a payment every month. Most parents do not pay every month, so she
has to use her personal savings to augment whatever parents pay in that month.
Lack of qualified staff also hampers proceedings. “People look at me in astonishment
when I say I need qualified teachers.” That the curriculum changes every now
and then also put the skids on the progress of her project. “That frustrates me
big time. On top of that the kids are a headache.” Because the venue is
problematic, she cramps all the learners from all the grades into one room. I
help them with their home work in the first hour and in the second we do maths
and other subjects.”
Surprisingly, Nothando says money, or the
lack of it, is the least of her worries. “Not at all,” she quips.
But she is adamant about the poor state of
the education in South Africa. “It is shambolic,” she asserts. “I wish to, and will
be the minister of education one day just to sort out the mess one and for
all,” she continues.
She feels
secure in the company of children. “I am not sure why, but there is some
serenity when I am surrounded by these lovely angels. Many kids are affected
and infected by crime and abuse. Most of them do not access counseling and
because of this they become scarred for life. When I am with them I know they
will do well and this fuels my ambition to be a child psychology.”
Child psychologist, she says, help children
realize their potential. They also help children deal with stress. “Children do
sometimes feel isolated, forlorn and then end up not sure of themselves. They
do not do their homework and they often throw tantrums to attract attention and
sympathy. Then you need to hear them out to try and solve their problems.”
But she has no plans to have her own
children. “I think, as a career woman, you will never have time for your kids.
But, who knows, things can change as life moves on.”
In the meanwhile, she plans to shake
Sisonke up. She dreams to turn it into a fully-fledged school one day and
hopefully conduct training for teachers and parents. And, ultimately, possibly
run the country’s education department.
Fact
Box
Primary schools: Benoni West, Lee Rand,
Vetkenner, Halfway House, Germiston Junior, JS Mdlaza
High school: Wordsworth
Favourite subjects: accounting, business
studies, computer studies, maths literature, English, LO
Favourite subjects: business studies
Favourite teacher: Ms. Tempest
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