A school development manager for Axium Education at Amajongqi Public School’s Partnership in Willowvale, Babalwa Mtumtum, has appealed to women to identify their dream, and to take a step forward to implement their dream.
She reminded them that God has given them a brain, hands and feet. She said the combination of the three is a perfect match for a woman’s life.
Mtumtum said it was not easy to follow her dream but she was now the director of Bright Future Educational Academy in Mthatha, which specifically deals with the provision of extra classes for Grade 1 to Grade 9, with the aim of improving reading, writing and counting skills.
“The passion of education is inside me; I have been trained as a foundation phase teacher, where the basics of education are.
“If the child fails in this foundation he or she does not make it at all. (I have) experience of being a principal of a school where I have learnt the education gaps in our education system, like learners having to be condoned due to age, cohort and the number of years in phase (regardless of whether they are ready to advance). This led to kids that kept being pushed up to Grade 12 and that’s where they got stuck,” said Mtumtum.
Encouraging women to speak out
When it comes to gender-based violence, Mtumtum encourages women to speak out if they have a problem.
“Gender-based violence affects women emotionally, physically and mentally.
“I urge them to stand up for their rights. I know it is not easy because sometimes they don’t even realise that they are being abused by their loved ones.
“Don’t keep on saying you are giving him another chance because his next chance could be death. Do not stay in an abusive marriage because you are doing it for the sake of the children because at the end they would end up being orphans.”
Support structure
Mtumtum added that she grew up in a poor family and after her parents separa-ted, she ended up parenting her siblings. Her parents died when she was young.
“I am that person who does not want to see people who are struggling to live. I am so lucky because I joined a church which also nurtured this. I got support from my church members and I have been taught how to manage most of these issues.”
“Since my work is so demanding I have to focus more on it, and God had provided me with a good manager, Zoliswa Ximbi, who ensures that my business is doing well. So I can confirm that whatever I am doing for God, I get a reward.”
