ELIM – An American Fulbright exchange teacher at Murimane High School in Mbokotha, Terry McManamy, is returning home to Vermont in the USA with an inspired dream.

After a year of teaching Physical Science to Grades 10, 11 and 12 at Murimane High, Terry says he became aware of the wide-spread need at schools in the area, specifically for the appropriate equipment to teach Physical Science. He would like to change that.

“Most of the schools are pretty needy. There are large classes – up to 50 pupils in a class – and often also a lack of appropriate text books and specialised equipment.”

Terry is, however, positive and excited about the region and its people.

“I had an amazing time here. In between teaching, I took time to visit most of your tourist attractions. While I was here, my three children also came to visit during the winter holidays. It was a wonderful time for all of us.”

He is eager to return in the new year.

“Hopefully, my reason for coming back will be to introduce a mobile physical science laboratory to the region. Through such a unit, all the schools in a circuit could benefit from the regular visit and availability of the most up-to-date equipment and techniques for physical science classes.”

Terry says he plans to visit existing mobile units and projects to investigate and research the practical possibility of introducing this versatile teaching tool to rural schools in the northern part of the Limpopo Province. He will also spend most of the time between now and the beginning of the new school year in finding sponsors interested in such a venture – a really worthwhile investment with far-reaching, positive implications.