Onderwysers toegerus vir vernuwing

Equipped for better relationships

Vernuwing in verhoudings onder onderwysers, kinders en ouers is sekerlik die eerste stap in ‘n nuwe rigting in Suid-Afrikaanse skole.

Die vierde Nasionale Christen Onderwysers Konvensie (NCOK) is die naweek by Oranje Meisies Skool in Bloemfontein gehou en het juis hierdie aspek van die land se opvoedingsomgewing aangespreek.

Die konferensie, wat vanaf Saterdag tot vandag aangebied is deur die Foundation for Cross-Cultural Eduction (FCE), was ‘n uiterse vrugbare konferensie vir alle Christen onderwysers wat begeer om ‘n verskil in die lewens van hul leerders te maak. Opvoeders het hier inspirasie gekry om in die nuwe kwartaal terug te keer werk toe en is ook toegerus vir die groot uitdagings wat by elke skool lê en wag.

Persoonlike deurbrake
Werkswinkels met kleiner groepsbesprekings asook sessies in die groter groep het verskeie onderwerpe aangeraak soos Godsdiens of Verhouding, Diens aan die Gemeenskap, Liefde vir Kollegas soos vir Jouself en Aangestel as God se Rentmeester.
Daar is ook spasies geskep vir korporatiewe aanbidding, gebed en vir onderwysers om mekaar te bedien. Talle opvoeders het na die naweek teruggekeer met deurbrake in hul persoonlike en professionele lewens.

Jana Niemand van Doxa Deo East School & College in Pretoria het aan Gateway News gesê dit was vir haar ongelooflik om weer te besef hoe groot roeping onderwysers het.

“Na die naweek kan ek terugkeer en trots wees om as ‘n onderwyser gesien te word,” het sy gesê. “Ek weet my beroep maak ‘n verskil in God se koninkryk.

“Ek sien nie meer onderwys as wiskunde, Afrikaans of Engels nie, maar eerder wiskunde, Afrikaans en Engels as die vervoermiddel vir kinders om by God uit te kom.”

Niemand se kollega van Doxa Deo, Mauritz Grobler het ook baie geleer.

“Ek was aanvanklik nie lus om te kom nie en het nie veel verwagting gehad nie,” het Grobler gesê. “Maar die vibe die eerste aand het my net laat tuis voel. Ons almal wat hier was het dieselfde passie vir kinders gedeel.

“Ek het ook in die laaste sessies baie geleer oor hoe om juis kinders te bereik en kan wat ek hier geleer het gaan toepas. Ek sal beslis weer volgende jaar kom.”

Vanuit Polokwane in Limpopo het onderwysers ook goeie terugvoer gegee. Chantel Nel van Trinity meen alhoewel sy al ‘n geruime tyd die Here dien, dit vir haar as onderwyser ‘n goeie leerskool was.

“Jy leer tegnieke van byna alles. Beginsels van die klaskamer tot in die huwelik,” het sy gesê.

“En die FCE wat net God trust vir alles is werklik amazing. Dit was vir my erg om te dink dat mense nie worry oor salaris nie, maar net kan vertrou. Dit leer my baie.”

Teachers from the Eagles Nest Christian School in Polokwane also shared their great experiences. Techaona Kakumbo said he first had to make his mind up he would be positive starting his brief spring break with a conference in the Free State, but in the end was glad he came.

“It was a great weekend, speaking to my heart. The key thing for me was learning about the correct relationships with children, parents and fellow teachers,” he said.

“I identified the big challenge of absent fathers in our communities and I want to serve as a role model and guardian to young boys.”

Loving yourself
Kakumbo’s fiancé, Siphilisiwe Sibanda, shared her man’s views and added the realisation of loving yourself was the root to all she learnt over the weekend.

“All relationships start from knowing yourself and who you are in God first,” Sibanda said.

“Understanding the chemistry of people around you and addressing the problems in our nation starts with better relationships.”

Fellow teacher at Eagles Nest, Meshack Hlangani, attending his fourth convention said it had been generally good.

“This year really improved and I believe the topics have been God inspired,” he said. “Healing and restoration played a big part and I believe teachers will go back home to restore some relations and walk in love.

“The workshops focused on all aspects of life and awakened us to lead sin free lives.

“However, maybe in the future there should be more opportunity for teachers to recommit to Jesus. I do not think all teachers attending were full-out believers.”

Travelling over 3 000km from Shifidi Primary School in Eenhana, Namibia, former FCE trained teacher Alexander Teofelus felt the convention was very refreshing.

“Since I have been with these guys, I already covered most of these topics,” said Teofelus. “But this was once again refreshing. I can go back to Eenhana and be geared-up again.

“It is great to know one has a bigger support system when it comes to educating others.”