“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” These words by American author, Guy Kawasaki, rings true and when one considers the multi-faceted role of teachers it becomes clear that a teacher is not just an educator. A teacher impacts the lives of each learner entrusted to him/her on a unique and profound manner.

Through this impact they launch their students into an infinite amount of potential futures.

With this in mind, the Alumni Office of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark will be hosting its first educators’ get together on Saturday, 1 July 2017 at the Quest Conference Estate in Vanderbijlpark.

According to Zanele Ngobese, the campus’s alumni coordinator, the event aims to not only bring alumni back to the campus, but also to keep them informed about important matters as it pertains to the NWU. “Ultimately the event will create a platform from where professionals – in this instance educators – will be able to network with each other and at the same time recommit themselves to their alma mater,” explains Zanele.

The campus’s deputy vice-chancellor (DVC), Prof Linda du Plessis, will welcome the alumni after which representatives from several support divisions will explain and share the various services and options available for postgraduate studies within the field of education. A member of the NWU Convocation, Prof Marius Stander, will also take to the stage to motivate alumni to join the Convocation. The latter is a formal structure that promotes the welfare of the university and actively influences its affairs through representation on the NWU Council.

“The teaching profession represents the heartbeat of any generation because when teachers are at their best, they can change the entire way their students view the world and the lives ahead of them,” explains Zanele and indicates that the BEd group will officially become one of the first chapters of the campus’s alumni fraternity.

Good company and good food

Zanele says that since nothing is more traditionally South African than potjiekos and good company, the event will be a celebration of good food and great company. “We are going to get those coals blazing, gather around as friends and get the event stirring,” says Zanele and adds that the get together starts at 13:00.

For more information please contact the Alumni Office by sending an email to Zanele.ngobese@nwu.ac.za or contact her on 016 910 3250.

Zanele Ngobese, alumni coordinator of the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark.