By Theodorah Mawasha
KGAPANE: October month is deemed world teacher’s month and the actual day is celebrated globally on the 5th of October every year.
Throughout the month of October, Tzaneen Voice will honour and celebrate educators for making an ever-lasting impact on learners, past and present.
One inspiring story comes from Ronny Moroatshehla, who hails from Ga-Kgapane, in the Greater Letaba Municipality.
Moroatshehla now sits in the National Assembly as a representative for Basic Education and is a former teacher and Union leader.
In an interview with Tzaneen Voice, Moroatshehla narrated that his journey was birthed from humble beginnings.
“My teaching career started decades ago and I have over 38 years of experience as a teacher. I started teaching at the dusty streets of Malematsa village, at one of the primary schools there,” said Moroatshehla.
“The career didn’t just fall on my lap. It was, and still is, my passion. My father and my brother were teachers as well, a clear indication that it’s a calling,” he recollected.
The former teacher said that this month for him means that teachers are given a much-needed recognition and acknowledgement for the enormous contribution towards all professions and occupations we have in society.
“The importance of a teacher and contribution a teacher has to his community cannot be taken lightly.
“This profession is rated low but we can all agree that, all professions are a product of a teacher hence I emphasize that this profession needs to be acknowledged for the role it plays in the development and growth of any society,” he addressed.
The Cadre told Tzaneen Voice that the transition from teaching to National Assembly was a smooth one. This is because he has been chairperson of SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union) , at Provincial level and partook in other organizations as a leader.
” I was ambitious and ambition is like a dream. When you dream, you must dream big, otherwise you will die where you are,” he said
Moroatshehla is serving in the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education at the National Assembly in the Parliament of South Africa. The remit of this committee is to oversee the work of the Department of Basic Education, Umalusi and the South African Council of Educators.
The Cadre concluded by encouraging young people to pursue teaching as their first career choice because it’s the backbone of every community.
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