Maths master the pride of Thengwe

Thengwe School’s mathematics teacher, Mr Mashudu Marubini, received the first prize in the coveted excellence in teaching mathematics category during the national teaching awards ceremony in Boksburg last Thursday.

He was given red carpet treatment and a hero’s welcome at his school on Monday. The 44-year-old educator from Thohoyandou was warmly welcomed by pupils, teachers and members of the community when he arrived back at the school,

For his efforts, Marubini received a cash prize of R25 000, a return trip to the USA, a trophy, a certificate and R200 000 worth of IT equipment for his school. Speaking during the celebratory function, Thengwe School’s principal, Mr Elias Nemudzivhadi, said Marubini has made the school very proud. "It is not surprising that he won the award. He is the type of person who listens to leadership, is dedicated to his work, has passion and is easy to work with," said Nemudzivhadi.

In response, Marubini said the rewards were not for his personal glory but should be shared by all at Thengwe. "I am still short of appropriate words to express my happiness to all who had faith in me," he added. He said he did not work hard to get an award but to see to it that all his pupils passed and had a better life.

The award did not come cheaply. Marubini stays about 50km from his place of work, and with the morning classes he conducts, he drives from his home at 05:00 each morning and reaches home at 19:00 after the afternoon studies.

Of the 290 Grade 12 pupils who wrote the final mathematics exams last year, only nine failed. "People out there are celebrating that only nine pupils failed, while in my heart I am crying as to why they had failed," added Marubini.

News - Date: 13 March 2014

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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