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06 July 2021 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
Mutshidzi Abigail Mulondo, Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been recognised as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans.
For Mutshidzi Abigail Mulondo, Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), being recognised as one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans is encapsulated in Mark Twain’s quote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why”.

Knowing that she is living her ‘why I was born’ and actually being recognised for it, is a wonderful feeling, says Mulondo, whose passion is public health.

“I feel honoured to have been considered and counted among influential young South Africans who are doing incredible work. I am thankful to Mail & Guardian for this wonderful recognition,” says Mulondo.

Passion and commitment to promoting health 

She was nominated by one of her mentors but was sceptical that she would be in the final 200 list, as there are usually more than 5 000 applications each year. According to Mulondo, she is happy to have been proven wrong and even more grateful to be surrounded by powerful women who continue to propel her towards her purpose.

Mulondo says she always knew that she wanted to be in a position to help alleviate pain and suffering and that health would be her avenue to serve humanity. Says Mulondo: “When I started with an interdisciplinary PhD in Health Professions Education and Community Health, it further solidified my passion and commitment to promoting health.”
“I am equally passionate about mental health wellness. After completing a master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Pretoria, I knew it would provide me with an opportunity to impact people’s lives more holistically. An opportunity to not only promote physical health, but to also advocate for mental health.”

Hope for the youth of South Africa

Mulondo’s message to young people is also the motto she lives by: “Be kinder to yourself”. So many times, we are hard on ourselves when we fail or when we do not accomplish what we set out to accomplish at a particular time. 

“Please remember that you are the only you that will ever be. You must therefore be gentler with yourself; despite what you thought you would have achieved thus far, appreciate how far you have actually come against whatever odds,” says Mulondo.

Her hope for the youth of South Africa is that we reach a point where fighting against issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), systematic racism, gender inequality, high unemployment rates, and all other constructs that affect our youth and country is a matter of the past. “While we envision that day, I hope that we all continue to stand together and speak up for the vulnerable, marginalised, and disenfranchised. I am confident that we will see and experience the fullest potential of our youth, in this lifetime (Jeremiah 29:11).”

News Archive

UFS awarded tenders worth R22,5 million for Maths and Science teacher-training
2010-03-17

The Centre for Education Development (CED) at the University of the Free State (UFS) has received tenders worth about R22,5 million over the past two years from four provinces to train Mathematics and Science teachers from underperforming schools.

The CED has received tenders from the following provincial departments of education: Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Mpumalanga.

“The centre has a good reputation for the training of teachers in these disciplines and has been involved with the upgrading of Maths and Science teachers for at least 15 years,” said Prof. Daniella Coetzee, Director of the CED.

It is currently busy with the training of North West teachers after being awarded a R13,5 million tender by the Province as part of its quest to improve pass rates in Mathematics and Natural and Physical Sciences in underperforming schools.

“The tender is for the upgrading of the knowledge and methodology of teachers for Mathematics and Natural and Physical Science, as well as the upgrading of the knowledge of subject specialists in the North West Province,” said Prof. Coetzee.

For this project the centre trains 1 000 teachers and 90 subject specialists from underperforming schools over a period of three years.

The programme commenced in February this year with a baseline assessment of the teachers to determine knowledge and methodology gaps upon which to focus in the training.

“After the programme has been completed we will also do a post-assessment to see if there had been progress,” she said.

The training is offered only on Saturdays at Vryburg, Klerksdorp, Makapanstad, Brits and Zeerust and is presented by lecturers from the CED as well as selected and trained tutors from the North West province.

“We have successfully completed another Maths, Science and Technology project for the North West Department of Education. We have also completed similar projects for the Northern Cape and one for the Free State Department of Education,” she said.

These completed projects entailed formal qualifications (Advanced Certificate in Education) in Maths, Science and Technology and were worth in excess of R5 million.

The CED has just been recently awarded yet another tender in excess of R4 million over a period of two years by the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

Prof. Coetzee had the following to say about the CED being the preferred choice of these provincial Departments of Education: “It has to do with the fact that the CED has been performing well with the upgrading of teachers. It has proven itself as a leader in the in-service training of Maths and Science teachers in South Africa.”

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
17 March 2010

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