The document describes the author's journey from growing up in a poor rural family to becoming an educator. It discusses how education helped lift the author out of poverty and the importance of purposeful education. It outlines some of the projects the author implemented as a principal to make education practical and inspire learners, such as farming and herbal medicine. It also addresses challenges in modern education like technology integration and recommends focusing on problem-solving approaches, vocational training, and teamwork to keep education purposeful.

1. Purposeful education in
hyperactive times
By Phuti Ragophala(VTA and Online MIE Educator)
phuthi.ragophala@gmail.com
http://itandiksproject.blogspot.com
Skype ID: phuthi6

2. Introduction
 I emerge from a very destitute family background: very rural, poverty, less
skilled parents and very slimy chance of attaining a successful life
 The only tool that I was encourage to use to fight poor background was
education
 I started my primary school under the tree
 Then in the shop
 In the dilapidated farmers house, drinking water with animals, using nearby
shrubs to relieve ourselves
 Then moved in to a real school building for my high school education
 Then a school principal and teacher more than three decades, change my
scenery to online teaching and learning to date
 I never knew how the real school building look like until my high school time

3. The professional route I walked
as a child until where I am now.
Under the tree
In the shop
In the famers house
In a classroom
In the cloud/
sky classroom

4. The world yesterday (apartheid time)hard times
 More respect to educators
 Real and few role models: policemen, nurses, teachers and soldiers
 Empathetic heart from community members and business people
 The notion of “My child is your child” It takes the whole community to raise
up a child”
 Education that was more on values, morals and basic
elements of education(speak, write, read and
numerate))
 Children were motivated by education in order to fight poverty
 Very less inequalities with regard rich or poor families(very narrow gap)
 The school was the only tool to fight poverty, attain good life and be
respected and responsible person in community

5. Education that was / is based on four elements and values
 Literacy: how to speak, read, write
 Numeracy: counting
 Work experience: practical skills: crafting, sewing, baking, cocking, etc
 Social service: ploughing for other people
 The following aspects were incorporated in the elements of purposeful
education:
 Determination
 Discipline and respect
 Goal orientated: e.g when I grow up I want to become…………… to build my
parents a very big house
 Hard work

6.  Based on the above mentioned facts:
It was possible and its still possible ,to keep in possession of your own career
because it’s a real possession in the changes fortune of time.
 It was possible and its still is ,to be what you want to be even in hard times as
long as you don’t loose focus of what you want. We made it even in apartheid
era.
 Example: My going to school made me who I am today because of dedicated
teachers who were more focused on what they were doing.(goal orientated)
To me education served the purpose : I am know a responsible educated leader.
 From that day the desire to use education to change the lives of needy
people got so entrenched in me in such that my teaching and learning
career beard good fruit.
 The desire to use practical projects to unlock and inspire learners future
careers and connect their natural talents with opportunities through
education became more and more entrenched in me hence the following
projects in school:

7. Projects I used for learners to realise the purpose of education:
My teachings are based more on problem solving(PBL)
 We can become better human beings only if our education is purposeful

8. Practical projects (PBL)
 Farming: Through skills acquired from FTFA we started Greening projects to
supply the community, instil farming skills to learners, fight poverty. Main aim :To
re assure community that they can produce their own food without relying on
hand-outs from municipality ,to inspire future farmers & maintain peace
 Maintain peace and justice, No poverty and good health and well being
Addressed UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal Number 1 and 16

9.  IKS in medicine: Through skills acquired from FTFA and UNILIM I and my
colleques learnt on how to use green herbs to make ointments and e we
transferred the skills to learners to unlock their critical and creative skills :
Harvesting, mixing, cooking, packaging and labelling and sell to augment school
funds, gain knowledge and to inspire their career choice
 Quality education, good health and well being, reducing inequality in education
Addressing UNESCO SDG’s number 3 and 4

10. Accomplishing my Young Scientist dream
Stephen
Mafokoane <stephen.mafokoane@gmail.com>
to me
Greetings Ma'am
Apr 30 (4 days ago)
My name is Stephen Mafokoane, I am not quite sure that you remember me, I was in the 2011 group.
Right now I am in my first year at Pearson Institute, doing Biotechnology/Pharmacy.
Basically, you made me to choose this lane, you made me to have love for herbs and medicine.
So I want to return to the community, and only you can help me with that.
I am thinking of using The Grade 7 Theory lesson on sectors of economy. The one about how products are
made fron raw materials until packed.
My aim right now is to produce those medicines again, and help kids. With you not being at Pula-Madibogo
anymore, some kids might struggle with the head sores, fungi etc.
So ma'am, I cannot start this without you, you have the methods, you have more knowledge on this. And
this is your project, I could not just hijack it.
All I need is your help, confirmation and blessings.
Stay blessed.
Regards
Appreciation email from former learner

11. Good morning madam Phuti Ragophala I want to express my sincere
appreciation to you for being the most superb school principal I have ever
known. Your leadership during the time that my two children have attended
your school Pula Madibogo has been remarkable and inspiring.
I know many other parents and learners feel the same way, even though
we might often forget to tell you how much we appreciate you. My son
Christopher Ramabu is doing very well at Dendron Secondary School
because of the foundation he got from your school. Attached are some
pictures of my son during the matrix dance function at Bolivia Lodge hall
last Saturday. Thank you for your wise and strong leadership. Sincerely Mr
and Mrs RAMABU.
Appreciation email from parent

12. Teaching with technology :Through the skills from the then MASTEC
,Microsoft ,School Net and COZA CARES once every Friday(FRIDAY TECHNOLOGY) I take
learners in our mini media lab to use the tools to augment their learning. Some time
they skype with schools outside the country about collaborative projects like reading,
national symbols etc. The main aim being to create global citizens who will be able to
compete globally with their peers.#Teachersmatter
Check this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QnjoaQqfqI

13. Purposeful education in hyperactive times
 Even in hyper active times we can still have purposeful
education
 One can still find silence in a world full of noise
 The key factors that make purposeful education possible:
empathy, determination, goal orientated, passion and hard
work
And of course not forgetting the four elements of education;
Literacy
Numeracy
Social services
Work experience

14. ICT integration through CTP model
 Content: What we teach,Pedagogue: How we teach(PBL
approach),Technology: tools to support teaching and learning(creativity,
critical thinking, communication , Collaboration, innovation)

15. Lesson learnt
 Todays generation learn by creating knowledge not by absorbing it as we use
to during our times
 The teacher is no longer have that authority , to take long time talking,
standing in front of the class but to guide
 Theory should be very less and more of practice
 Digital generation want to create knowledge and retailor it they way they
understand it. They don’t want to be fed(Critical thinkers and solution
seekers) They are part of the MAKER MOVEMENT.(job creators than Job
seekers)
 Teaching that is driven by technology tools is understood better than manual
 Todays generation need more support: Parents, educators, NGO’s and Dept of
education
 Teaching and learning that is incorporated in SDG’s and ICT tools bears good
fruit
 My MEC uploaded content Link:
 https://education.microsoft.com/Status/Content

16. PPT
PHOTO
GALLERY
AUTO
COLLA
GE
MICROSO
FT WORD
Changed how learners perceive education, unlocked their creativity
Some of the technology tools learners use to drive their learning

17. Challenges
 Educators still belief in more talking than doing(Practical versus
theory)
 Many educators don’t believe in collaborating and communicating
about their work in class( Very few have blogs,websites, social
media accounts, emails and writing books online to share what
they are doing)
 Learners who still have phobia in technology tools. Video:
 Introduction of technology in schools came as if its replacing a
teacher
 Teachers no longer the foundation of knowledge: Knowledge is
every where
 Manual work is no longer done in schools: few vocational schools
than academic centres(crafting, knitting, sewing, boiler making,
plumping etc. Learners are not gifted the same.)
 Learners wanting quick rich and cash than good and quality
education.

18. Learners with phobia in tech tools

19. Implementation deep
Educators (not in the same level) Learners (many of them are born with skills
workshops
IMPLEMENTATION DEEP
Educators who cannot keep up the pace of using technology tools in class in this digital
era
Model showing most educators still on the other side of implementation
as compared to learners who are born with skills

20. Challenges will always be there. Learnt to surf on them

21. Common focus and team work spirit
U
unemployment
Poverty
Inaccessibility
to good
education
Teenage
pregnancy
Ill health
Regular
absenteeism
Road fatality
SGB
members
Parents
Business
people
NGO’S
Educators
Learners
SMT
Teachers
organisatio
ns
Departm
ent
Sister
departm
ents
21

22.  Teaching and learning that is based on
problem solving approach, yield good fruit because
it stimulate learners, creativity, innovation,
problem solving , communication, collaboration
and critical thinking skills.

23. Recommendations and way forward
We can still have purposeful education in this hyper active times only if we are
focused and goal orientated as educators
 Reminding teachers that teaching is not for self actualisation
 Compulsory education to youth
 More vocational schools than academic
 Team work and common goal orientation amongst all the relevant stake
holder in education
 Educators to join global educators networks in order to learn from each other
and self empowerment. Link:
 https://education.microsoft.com/Status
Incorporating teaching and learning with UN SDGs #Teach SDG’s
 Coming up with better vocab on the tools that learners should use in leaning:
 E.g mouse is a night mare to many learners.

24. Information
Value for
MoneyRedress
Batho Pele
Courtesy
Openness &
Transparency
Consultation AccessService
Standards
The principles of Batho Pele.( People first) as a guidance

25. Conclusion
“The moment we become
comfortable with suffering
and challenges, we lose our
Humanity ”Phuti Ragophala.

26. Thank you
• Microsoft In Education
• Varkey Foundation
• South African Council Of educators
• COZA CARES
• FTFA
• SchoolNet SA
• Microsoft SA