Education Student Attends Summer School in Prague

BY: .

UKZN PhD Education student and Principal of Stanger South Secondary School, Ms Nonhlanhla Dube, attended the Prague Summer Schools’ Experiences in the Czech Republic.

Dube, who boasts more more than two decades of teaching experience, delivered a guest lecture titled: The Future of Schools, as part of the Summer Schools programme, drawing from her master’s research.

In her presentation, Dube discussed the importance of the role and leadership of principals in the future of schools and how principals’ daily lives were a negotiation of dilemmas posed by material and structural forces always at play in disadvantaged schools and the mitigation strategies principals used to survive.

‘The interaction with the international professional learning community developed my presentation skills,’ said Dube. ‘This was a motivating experience and it made me realise how important it is for students to participate in conferences.’

It emerged from her interactions with young people from all over the world that some knew very little or nothing about the South African education system. ‘It is important for South African academics to share their scholastic work with the international community. We tend to assume the world knows who we are. The positive feedback I got from my time during the Summer Schools programme showed that I must not underestimate my potential as an emerging novice researcher.’

Dube thanked her supervisors, Professor Daisy Pillay and Professor Relebohile Moletsane for their support.

Words: Melissa Mungroo

Photographs: Supplied