Ms Eunice Ntombifuthi Xaki with her Lecturer Mr Sithembiso Ngubane.58-year-old Graduates with National Professional Diploma in Education
Ms Eunice Ntombifuthi Xaki was all smiles at the UKZN Graduation ceremony held recently on the Westville campus where she graduated with a National Professional Diploma in Education in Vocational Training (NPDE VT).
On receiving her diploma and continuing to study at age 58 she said, ‘I work in Umfolozi Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College and wanted to encourage lifelong learning. I have not studied for a long time and wanted to improve the way I teach by learning new ways of interacting with the students.’
Speaking about Xaki as a student, NPDE VT Numeracy Lecturer Mr Sithembiso Ngubane said, ‘During my first contact session in Umfolozi TVET College, I identified three students who appeared to need individual attention of which Eunice Xaki was one. I remember asking her to sit in the front row because I wanted to have closer contact with her.’
‘During the presentation of the lessons I encouraged her to solve as many problems on the whiteboard as she possibly could. I encouraged her to ask for clarity not only from me but from other students when she had doubts about her calculations. She gradually gained confidence and her performance in assignments improved.’
Xaki reminiscences, that during her time in school, she used to learn various subjects including the Maths timetable. ‘I am now able to apply the knowledge that I acquired in the NPDE VT programme to real life situations. I only knew how to add, subtract, multiply and divide using a calculator. I can now perform advanced scientific operations. I now know how to use the Power Point Presentation when I teach.’
The 58-year-old who was born on 24 August 1955, will be retiring in 2016 and is happy to get her diploma before her retirement.
She plans on using the skills that she developed during her studies to assist her community of Esikhawini in Empangeni. ‘I want to motivate them to do better and be a role model to them. Now that I am able to use modern technology better, I can ensure that my community is able to thrive and develop.’
She is both grateful to her family, friends and her lecturer Mr Sithembiso Ngubane for their ongoing support and advice. ‘They have helped me immensely and this has made me improve and modernise my teaching style.’
Melissa Mungroo