Dininkosi Junior Secondary School in Libode has paid tribute to its long-serving late teacher, Joseph Jolinkomo Dandala, who the school said had contributed immensely to improving mathematics and physical sciences grades during the five years he spent at the school.
Despite having retired from public service in August 2014, JJ, as he was affectionately known, was roped in by the school governing body at Dininkosi JSS in 2015, due to his well-known teaching acumen of mathematics and physical science subjects.
He left Dininkosi JSS at the beginning of 2020, due to his advanced age and ill health.
JJ, who passed away recently at the age of 71, was fondly remembered at a memorial service held at Dininkosi JSS on May 11.
“JJ joined Dininkosi in 2015 after we asked parents to employ additional SGB-funded teachers. I was happy when we managed to convince him to join us because I personally knew his teaching acumen as my wife and I are also his products (of his teaching), having taught me mathematics and physical sciences at Zimele Junior Secondary School back in 1976,” said retired former Dininkosi JSS principal, Luthando Ndamase.
“He immediately made an impact in improving our grades in mathematics and physical science subjects and also had extra tutorial classes with students from various high schools, hosted here at Dininkosi,” Ndamase added.
Dandala obtained his teaching qualification at the then Cicira Training College in Mthatha and furthered his studies in Healdtown, near Fort Beaufort, where he attended a teaching course specialising in mathematics and science.
He was also chosen to study mathematics and science in England by the then Transkei government, due to his excellence in teaching mathematics and physical science at Zimele Junior Secondary School, where he spent most of his teaching career.
“My brother was a positive-minded person who always motivated those around him. He was also respectful, a community builder and someone who, as a firstborn, played a father figure in our upbringing after our father died,” said JJ’s younger sibling, Khwezilomso Dandala.
Apart from his teaching acumen, Dandala also excelled in art having designed the badge of Zimele JSS, which the school still uses today, among his notable art collections.
