Teachers, community members, and regional members of the Professional Educators Union (PEU) gathered at the Tshiozwi Nazarene Church last Thursday, to bid farewell to three well-known teachers who have retired.

The three are Mesdames Mukondi Mbatha, Mokgadi Shilenge and Elizabeth Makhode.

Mrs Shilenge started her career in 1965 at Madombidzha Junior Primary, and in 1967 she was transferred to Mapate Primary. In 1972, she was transferred to Matitivhala Primary School, where she served as principal until December 1984. She was appointed headmaster of Mukhudwana Primary in 1985. She later moved to Tshilwavhusiku Primary as principal, where she worked until she retired.

Mrs Elizabeth Makhode worked for the Department of Education for 45 years before she retired. She worked at different primary schools in Madombidzha, Magau and Magovhani and retired at the Tshilwavhusiku Primary school.

Mrs Mukondi Mbatha taught at Pharani Primary, Kutama High, Sinthumule High, Maebane Primary, Dr Labuschagne´s farm school, Madaheni Combined School and retired while working at Maebani Primary School.

The function was organised by the Sinthumule/Kutama PEU branch. During the function, speaker after speaker hailed the three as educators who loved their work and always did their best in ensuring that learners received quality education. The principal of Gogobole Primary and the secretary of the PEU branch, Mr Phineus Malema, described the three as hardworking and dedicated teachers, who were always committed to shaping the young generation for the future.

He remarked that, although the three qualified as teachers during the period of Bantu education, they did not have any difficulty switching to the latest teaching methods. He said that this posed a challenge to other teachers who were still fresh from university and were still finding it difficult to cope with the latest teaching methods. He urged teachers to work very hard in their profession as well as to further their studies.