Page 61 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Touched by the spirit we hear.

The person in the principal’s office as well as the school, high, which she sees as a place
Principal,
at the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf Her experiences at KwaThintwa informed the of excellence. “I have a strong belief that the Deaf
content of her PHD dissertation, which was an auto are not different to their hearing counterparts. They
R MAVIS NAIDOO is the principal of the ethnographic study entitled, “The Person in the often suffer from low self-esteem, as the hearing
community often puts a ceiling on their potential.
KwaThintwa School for the Deaf, which is Principal’s Office”. Mavis was awarded her PHD in
Dbased in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. 2013, which she completed studying part-time in However, I believe that they can achieve as well if
The school takes in children with a hearing loss from two years and eight months. She explains that she not better than typically hearing children. Deaf
education is fast changing, and this rapid change
the age of 3 to 20, from the poorest communities in had been inspired to study further by her mother inspires me to do more.”
rural areas all over KZN. KwaThintwa offers full board- who had studied continuously throughout her life
ing and follows the mainstream CAPS curriculum. and uncalculated in her a love for education. Over the past eight years, the school has had a
The school was established by Archbishop Dennis Mavis juggles many balls and plays a pivotal role 100% matric pass rate including learners obtaining
distinctions. The learners take South African Sign
Hurley. While he on a visit to Thintwa (meaning in Deaf education. Over and above managing the
touched), he was touched on his cloak by an 11 year 361 learners who are full time boarders and the Language (SASL) as their Home Language and
old boy. On questioning why the child was not 120 staff complement, she is the deputy president English First Additional Language (FAL). South
at school, he discovered that there were limited of Deaf Education Principals Association – South Africa is the first country in the world to have Sign
opportunities for Deaf children. KwaThintwa was Africa (DEPASA) and has served as deputy president Language as a school subject.
opened in February 1981 with 40 Deaf learners. of South African National Association for Special The schools 2018 Dux, Thabile Qondani, was placed
Schools (SANASA). In addition, Mavis has been second in South Africa for SASL Home Language and
Mavis reflected that Archbishop Hurley had been chancellor for the National Institute for the Deaf
someone she always had a deep admiration for (NID) and has publications in international journals. is the first Deaf individual to study law in KZN. Other
as he had stood up for social justice and actively learners have gone on to become chefs, teachers,
campaigned against apartheid. She said, “I couldn’t Her passion for the school is apparent in the active and work in IT.
believe that he was the chairperson of the interview fundraising campaigns that she has undertaken A heart for the marginalised
committee when I applied for the job.” Subsequently, since most the learners are from economically
Archbishop Hurley became a mentor to her in her disadvantaged backgrounds resulting in minimal “I have proved that a marginalised child can achieve
various management roles within the school. payment of fees. Mavis has secured millions of rands against all odds by creating an environment that is
in funding, which has resulted in the building of conducive for learning with committed staff. The
“When I applied for the position, I had no ambition classrooms, a library as well as a road to the school children at KwaThintwa are living testaments to this.
other than the need to make a difference. There is among other much needed facilities. “South African
never a day when I am not touched by working at the businessmen are very generous, especially when Mavis also reflected that she is very proud of the
school, I often have goose bumps when I drive into they can see tangible results,” she says. achievements of her two sons – who she says are
the school grounds.” successful role models that have a heart for the
Running the school has required that Mavis acquire marginalised in South Africa.
She explained that she had a steep learning curve business skills and she is grateful for the support that
when she joined the school and went from a level one she has received. “As a professional person, I was If she could give advice to her younger self, Mavis
to a level three post in a very patriarchal school. She not prepared for a management role, however, my would say, “Some things can be left undone. I am
was a young Indian female who had no understanding an overachiever and I don’t need to do everything
of Zulu culture, no knowledge of Zulu language and friend the late Hanu Singh, showed me the ropes at once.”
and inspired me for the first five to six years on how
no Sign Language.
to run the school as a business.” “I am very happy and content with what I have
“I really believed that my appointment was the will A place of excellence achieved. If I could turn back the clock, I would do
of God and I trusted that his Grace would keep me,” this all again. KwaThintwa is the legacy that I leave
she says. Being goal orientated, Mavis sets the bar for herself, behind,” she concluded.

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