With the 25th Annual National Teaching Awards (NTAs) underway, questioning the profession and what it stands for comes to mind. Does it still enjoy the same respect, honour and dignity that it used to. Do people who are in the profession have passion for it? Do they consider it a calling or just another job that will get them to their monthly bills paid?
An opinion from one Ntshediseng Motsilili – who has been in the education profession for over 30 years and is a Life Sciences Subject Adviser at the Free State Department of Education, suggests that the teachers of today, are only in it for the cheque at the end of the month.
“They’ve lost the dignity for it. These days it’s all about making money and getting out of there as soon as possible. No one cares about preparing lessons, preparing the learners and making sure they understand the work. They don’t present themselves well when they show up for work and that speaks to the discipline they have or the lack thereof. If you cannot maintain the discipline, learners will not listen to you,” Motsilili said.
The NTAs are organised by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to acknowledge and celebrate educators whose contribution to learners and the society go beyond their learning centers. But to what degree is that out of love for the profession as opposed to obligation?
Malehlohonolo Moteka from Qwabi Primary School – a teacher that has been in the profession for the past 6 years, says when teachers are being trained, no one prepares them for the harsh realities and obstacles that come with the teaching profession. Things that involve having to deal with difficult learners, parents, officials from the departments, the school governing body, etc. She also says that unlike before when teaching and learning was the responsibility of both learner and teacher, in today’s times, the bigger responsibility lies more on the teacher.
“Teaching has shifted its focus from learning and teaching to be more about hurrying learners and making them progress to the next grade. It forces teachers to make more of the effort and ensure learners progress no matter the circumstance whereas before, learners used to repeat grades if they did not do well and if they did not understand the work,” she said.
Moteka also spoke about the disadvantages that came with the banning of corporal punishment, saying without the right way of disciplining learners, they get out of control and difficult to discipline.
“Without discipline, we will never empower learners to be responsible and accountable leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
A retired teacher, Ntombizodwa Mokhema, says changing the systems and programmes like the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and the likes, also hindered progress in learners and therefore changed the teaching profession.
“The programmes that have now been introduced that were meant to help learners are not helping but instead making the learners progress slowly. Nothing is the same anymore,” she said. The NTA’s are important because they highlight the critical role teachers play in shaping futures, uplifting communities, and strengthening society. Perhaps participating in them will also restore the dignity that may have been lost along the way in the teaching profession.