Advocating teaching for all

A senior academic in the Education Faculty is the lead researcher for a national project on inclusive education titled Teaching for All.

Dr Cina Mosito, Head of Department: Intermediate Phase Department, says the project is premised on the belief that all children have the ability to learn, have the right to quality education and that every child matters and matters equally. The project is funded by the European Union.

“We have used our grant to host workshops for teachers that mentor our students during Teaching Practice and produce video-taped lessons that support curriculum and learning materials.”

She was selected as one of the three women at CPUT who will be taking part in a Higher Education Leadership and Management programme called Women in Leadership (WIL). The programme aims to create and sustain a pipeline and pool of women leaders and managers for South African higher education and promote their advancement.

“A number of interesting events have been planned as part of this programme.  I am grateful to the institution and look forward to participating in this exciting venture.”

Mosito adds that over the last 15 years at CPUT she has grown as an academic from the research she does with her students. She draws her motivation from knowing that the kind of work she does influences futures.

“From this I am motivated to ask if I would be content to be at the receiving end of everything I do. If the answer is no, then that pushes me to do better.”

She praises her dedicated and hardworking colleagues who are passionate about teacher education and says they care about their students and education in this country. “Their passion and dedication fuel me to face each day of work with renewed energy.”

She adds that students humble her and that it is heart-warming to know that there are young people who are committed to effecting social justice despite many challenges that teachers face in schools.  “Many of my students are determined to acquire university education despite many challenges that they face in their personal and academic lives.”

She wants young women to know that women are highly capable of achieving anything and should learn to silence internal noises that often cast doubt on their capabilities. “Where mistakes have been made, valuable lessons should be gathered and we should not judge ourselves harshly. We should set an example of how we want to be treated which is a very important attribute of Ubuntu/Botho.”

Mosito adds that this process starts with being truly supportive of other women and avoiding negativity and toxicity that could harm their progress.

*For the duration of Women’s Month, we will be profiling several high profile CPUT women whose achievements and activities help us to become One SMART CPUT.

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: butanak@cput.ac.za