Walter Sisulu University saw a 75-year-old student graduate for a Master’s Degree in Education during the spring graduation ceremony, on November 16, in Mthatha.
The Cape Town-born Notozi Jennifer Mgobozi joined the university in 2018, after building a lifelong career centred on teacher development for quality education, especially around the rural areas of the Eastern Cape.
Leading up to her upcoming graduation, Mgobozi presented a learner-centred approach dissertation, which had investigated the transition from learning in a native language to English in the OR Tambo District.
“The research I did focused on rural students’ transition mostly. I wanted to do research that would have societal impact, and my aim with this research was to help break the language barrier that students experience by exploring alternative ways that are simpler for (the students).”
“Education has been a passion of mine since the beginning. My main objective has always been to go where I can make a difference in the education system, for both teachers and learners,” added Mgobozi.
Throughout her career,she worked with non-governmental organisations that aim at developing teachers, including the READ Education Trust in Gqeberha and the Molteno Project at Rhodes University.
“This achievement is part of a legacy that I’m am leaving behind for other people to benefit from and be inspired by,” said Mgobozi.
She said one of her most notable works was working at Collegiate Junior Secondary School, where she was one of the first teachers to assist with language transition as black learners were being inducted into former Model C schools.
She started working in the education sector as a primary school teacher, but felt she had to leave the field behind after she got married.
“But due to my passion for this, I decided I was not done.
“I was invited by an NGO at the University of Cape Town to be part of a team that was conducting ethnographic study.
“For most of my life, I have not applied to be part of these organisations. I have always received invitations because the work that I’ve done speaks for itself,” she added.
Mgobozi said she wished to proceed to doing her PhD, should she receive the necessary funding to do so.
