While for many obtaining a teacher’s diploma was a dream come true, the case was different for Mr Peter Netshia, who served as a circuit manager of Soutpansberg East for 12 years, until November 2007, when he became the acting manager.

For Netshia, his dream came true when he was served with a letter by the Department of Education, officially appointing him as circuit manager at a higher post level at Soutpansberg East. Netshia will occupy his new position from Monday the 1st of July 2008.

Born on January 15, 1948, at Thonando Village at Nzhelele, where he also received his primary education at Thonando Primary School, he then attended Phiriphiri Secondary and the Vendaland Institute. He obtained his teacher’s diploma from the University of the North, now called the University of Limpopo. That was not enough to the determined man and he pursued his career by obtaining a BA Hons and BEd in educational management from Unisa.

He started teaching in 1973 at the same school where he got his secondary education and taught at many different schools. In 1980, he was appointed principal at Mavhuka Secondary and in October 1981 as principal at Sinthumule High School.

In 1985, he occupied a position as inspector of schools at Dzanani, Sibasa, Tshitale and Vhulafuri circuit until 1993, when he was appointed as education planner at the Department of Education of the former Venda government.

In an exclusive interview with Mirror, Netshia said that in the field of education one only succeeds if learners pass well at the end of the each year and that he has partially achieved this. He furthermore said that new strategies will be introduced to improve the results.

Netshia outlined the challenges faced at the office; he said that some learners are ill disciplined and that they want to do things their own way. Some are lazy and there is a low morale amongst some educators.