Teacher goes beyond call of duty for her pupils

Teacher’s commitment to excellence and the improvement of her pupils has been rewarded by the Gauteng Department of Education.

Salome Mofokeng (27), a teacher at Lebohang Secondary School in Boipatong, won the Excellence in Secondary School Teaching category of the provincial National Teaching Awards.

Mofokeng is the school’s Head of Department for Accounting, Business Economics and Economic Management Sciences (EMS).

She is also the Teacher Liaison Officer responsible for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Concert and Prize-giving Coordination. In addition, she oversees the Learner Representative Council; Integrated Quality Management System and Induction Programme.

In her capacity as the ICT coordinator, Mofokeng teaches her colleagues and pupils how to use the school’s computer lab. She also uses the lab to assist Grade 12 pupils to apply for admission to higher education institutions, for jobs and bursaries.

“I help my pupils with applications because some of them come from poor families and don’t have access to resources,” Mofokeng said.

In addition to these responsibilities, Mofokeng also started the school’s art programme, which includes different types of dance.

Mofokeng said her passion for teaching was developed in high school. She loved teaching her peers, which was noticed by her accounting teacher who inspired her to follow a career in education.

“I try to relate to my learners. In my years of teaching, I have never taken any child to the principal. I always try to relate to them but also make sure that they know I am an elder,” said Mofokeng.

She teaches EMS to Grade Eight and Nine learners, and accounting to grades 10 to 12. One of Mofokeng’s favourite teaching techniques is to incorporate song into lessons. “I take content that is very difficult and turn it into rhythms so that they can remember it,” she explains.

Currently doing her PhD in Education Management at the North West University, Mofokeng said teachers should keep abreast of all developments in the field.

Mofokeng said her methods have resulted in a marked improvement in her pupils’ pass marks and the quality of passes.