After 43 years in education, Red River Primary School teacher Firdous Fakier, 63, has handed over the baton.
Teaching was a natural progression for her, Ms Fakier said, as she was the second eldest of seven children and had often helped to care for her younger siblings.
“I started working as a teacher very young, but I always loved children, so it was an easy career choice to make,” Ms Fakier said.
She did her initial studies at the then Hewatt Training College before continuing at UWC, where she passed cum laude. In her latter years as a teacher, she was appointed head of department for the senior phase.
Ms Fakier worked for 40 years at Red River Primary in Manenberg, but she would not have wanted it any other way, she said.
“I could have taught anywhere, but I called the then principal of Red River and asked him for a post there. My family was not happy that I was teaching in Manenberg. They were concerned about my safety and they could never understand why I wanted to be there.
“I travelled by taxi to school and used to walk down Red River Road all my years there. One of my sons joined me at my farewell ceremony at school and told me he now understands. People don’t know the people of Manenberg, only the stigma attached to the area.
“The children are so loving, so appreciative. You feel so loved there. I have so many letters the children wrote to me, and all of them wrote how much they love me. I feel like I am leaving my home. I spent more time with the children of Manenberg than my own children. I don’t have a moment of regret, though.”
Her most memorable moments at the school, she said, included seeing the change in a child who had not liked maths.
And a former pupil had brought her to tears when she had told Ms Fakier that she had contemplated suicide as a child until she had received the care and attention she had needed from Ms Fakier. Today that former pupil had a successful career and a loving family of her own, said Ms Fakier.
Ms Fakier said she would be going on Hajj next month although she felt sad that she would be unable to share that experience with her husband, who died two years ago.
“I am also a cancer survivor and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity,” she said, adding that she also hoped to spend more time with her four children and six grandchildren.
Her colleague, Sidney Hendricks, said she had always given her best to the school.
“The relationship she had with all her colleagues and learners made them feel special.
“Red River had five children who attended the Oprah Winfrey school, and most of these applications were done by her. She was also a strong supporter of the Brave Rock Girls that was established and had its origins at Red River Primary.”