IF more educators were as passionate about their profession as is the case with Ikhandlela Secondary School teachers, the quality of education would have reached unprecedented heights.
This sentiment was expressed by City of uMhlathuze Speaker, Cllr Mfundo Mthenjana.
He was speaking at the eSikhaleni-based school where he congratulated Grade 11 pupil Hope Dlamini on receiving a prestigious bursary.
Seventeen-year-old Dlamini was recently named as the KZN winner of the South African youth water prize (SAYWP), a national public speaking competition.
For her effort she scooped a whopping R500 000 bursary in the competition organised by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation.
‘This achievement should serve as a motivation to other pupils and the youth in general to make education fashionable. We understand that Dlamini could not have achieved this without the guidance of dedicated teachers such as Madoda Mlambo. We need more committed teachers like him in this department.
‘As the Chairperson of the school governing body and as the Speaker for the City of uMhlathuze, I’m walking tall,’ he said.
Science and technology
The SAYWP is a science and technology-based project aimed at encouraging and empowering the youth to participate actively in integrated and community-based water resource management.
An elated Dlamini said with this bursary she would pursue a career in water related fields, becoming a biologist or researcher.
‘Working on this project has been an eye opener for me. Working with my teacher we had to explore the use of ground water and its threats in quality and quantity.
‘We identified problems such as water wastage and pollution in our community.
‘We also conducted research and recommended solutions,’ she said.
