The former principal and founder of the Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School in Cofimvaba, Naniswa Sabata (60), was one of the five school principals whose schools were awarded vehicles by the Department of Education. Sabata said that she had spent 39 years in teaching, 28 of them at being the principal of Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School.
The department hosted the MEC’s Best Performance Teacher Awards in East London, last week.
Sabata said,
According to Sabata , she is the one who built the classrooms they used initially, using her own hands. Sabata added that those classrooms lasted for 15 years, until the government built a new school for them.
“It was not easy, but I told myself that I wanted to put this town on the map. I got recognition in these awards because my school is one of the schools that always does well when it comes to Grade 12 results.”
Sabata said that there were many challenges, and some had seen her as unfit since she is a woman, but through it all she managed to fulfil her dream.
“Last year we obtained 87 percent, with a lot of bachelors and distinctions. I want to say to other women they must be strong, because it is not easy out there but you must know your dream.
“Today I am happy because I am a retiring principal who got what she wanted. I was even invited by the University of Cape Town to tell them about my story.”
