AFTER FORTY years spent moulding the minds of thousands of the Eastern Cape’s young people, deputy director- general Sithembele Zibi retired this week.
The civil servant occupied various positions in his long education career in South Africa and overseas.
Zibi, 60, has left the provincial education department with a legacy project under way to improve teaching and learning outcomes at dysfunctional schools and under-performing education districts in the province.
Ironically, it was at the launch of his legacy project between the department and University of Fort Hare on Tuesday that his retirement was announced.
He was trained as a teacher to ensure that pupils were not only taught at school, but were shaped “globally” – physically, mentally and spiritually.
He believes that with what still has to be done to improve the education system, the province is on the right path under the leadership of new head of department Mthunywa Ngonzo.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch this week, Zibi said he wanted to take some time off and spend the remaining five years of service still in good shape.
He started his career in January 1973 as an assistant teacher at Mpeko Senior Secondary School in Mthatha.
This was where his love for teaching, sport and music developed.
He has a long history of leadership positions, including being a principal, a lecturer, rector, education planner, director, chief director, landing eventually at the helm of the department as a deputy director-general of institutional operations management.
His task entailed driving several programmes including school nutrition, scholar transport, HIV/Aids and managing the 23 districts .
Zibi’s qualifications include a BA, a BEd and an LLB through Unisa, and a Masters degree in education through the former University of Orange Free State.
However, he said the fondest memories of his career were the years at Mpeko Senior Secondary, when he was an energetic assistant teacher.
“ I took pride in teaching children, explaining concepts that they never heard of and guiding them in the right direction not only in their studies, but also in sport and music. That meant a lot to me.”
He was among the more than 40 senior officials suspended by the former education boss Modidima Mannya last year. The suspensions were lifted by Ngonzo .
Zibi shrugged the suspension off . “Sometimes as a manager you are required to explain yourself why certain things happened under your watch even if you were not directly involved. This was one of those things,” he said.
Ngonzo praised Zibi for his contribution to education in the province.
Fellow teachers, who attended the launch of Zibi’s legacy project were shocked to hear that it was his last day in office and applauded his “endless” endeavours to strengthen the capacity of schools. —
Education leader retires
The civil servant occupied various positions in his long education career in South Africa and overseas.
Zibi, 60, has left the provincial education department with a legacy project under way to improve teaching and learning outcomes at dysfunctional schools and under-performing education districts in the province.
Ironically, it was at the launch of his legacy project between the department and University of Fort Hare on Tuesday that his retirement was announced.
He was trained as a teacher to ensure that pupils were not only taught at school, but were shaped “globally” – physically, mentally and spiritually.
He believes that with what still has to be done to improve the education system, the province is on the right path under the leadership of new head of department Mthunywa Ngonzo.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch this week, Zibi said he wanted to take some time off and spend the remaining five years of service still in good shape.
He started his career in January 1973 as an assistant teacher at Mpeko Senior Secondary School in Mthatha.
This was where his love for teaching, sport and music developed.
He has a long history of leadership positions, including being a principal, a lecturer, rector, education planner, director, chief director, landing eventually at the helm of the department as a deputy director-general of institutional operations management.
His task entailed driving several programmes including school nutrition, scholar transport, HIV/Aids and managing the 23 districts .
Zibi’s qualifications include a BA, a BEd and an LLB through Unisa, and a Masters degree in education through the former University of Orange Free State.
However, he said the fondest memories of his career were the years at Mpeko Senior Secondary, when he was an energetic assistant teacher.
“ I took pride in teaching children, explaining concepts that they never heard of and guiding them in the right direction not only in their studies, but also in sport and music. That meant a lot to me.”
He was among the more than 40 senior officials suspended by the former education boss Modidima Mannya last year. The suspensions were lifted by Ngonzo .
Zibi shrugged the suspension off . “Sometimes as a manager you are required to explain yourself why certain things happened under your watch even if you were not directly involved. This was one of those things,” he said.
Ngonzo praised Zibi for his contribution to education in the province.
Fellow teachers, who attended the launch of Zibi’s legacy project were shocked to hear that it was his last day in office and applauded his “endless” endeavours to strengthen the capacity of schools. —
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