User:Zikhonamtyelwa

Being Patricia Nomvuno Mbatu

Early Life

Patricia Nomvuno Mbathu was born on the 06th of September 1959 in a small village called Mhlanganisweni few kilometers away from Libode town in the Eastern Cape Province. She is the first child of five children and the only girl in his parents. Her parents were Maphathekile (Mother) and Nkonkxa (father). She was born inside of wedlock with love and respect. She is the only child that managed to get education in her family.

Education

She started her primary at Ngavungavu Primary School in year 1967 till year 1972. She then went to attend Coza Junior Senior from year 1973 to 1975. She attended her high School at Victor Poto Senior Secondary school where she obtained her Form three certificate. To further her studies, she went to study Primary Teachers course at Clackbury College and obtained it in year 1981. In year 1996 she obtained her Junior Primary Diploma (JPD) at Cicirha College of Education as it was then.

Achievements

Obtaining her teachers course certificate was the biggest achievement for her given the background she came from. Her parents were both not working but, they made sure she got education and she never disappointed, came back with good grades and graduated on top of her class and scored her first teaching career at Lukhuni Junior Secondary School which is now a Senior Primary. The second achievement was getting promoted to a deputy principal position in year 1992 after serving the school for a decade. This was a proud moment to her because she never expected the promotion due to the fact that she was the youngest among other teachers. She says she received this through dedication and hard work. When you are dealing with children that are on the same space you were once in life you excel because you want to see them where you are today. Then she obtained her Junior Primary Diploma during a very tough time in her life where, she was a wife, had children to take care of and still be a good teacher and fulfill her duties to those on her supervision. She goes on and say in that era it was rarely possible for a husband to let a wife work in their communities let alone study. But she was fortunate enough and is very grateful for the opportunities she got. Surprisingly, her biggest achievement is when she turned down a position of being a principal about two years ago because she wanted people to see it was never about the money for her but, to better the lives of children.

Family

She got married in year 1984 to Alvin Mswelana Mtyelwa after a very short period being in a relationship. They were blessed with eight children, six girls and two boys. They were both working and at first things were great and the family was warm. She had very loving in-laws and her parents were proud of her. In that era nothing mattered more for a parent than to see her girl child getting married, it never mattered to whom or how. She loved her children, did anything to ensure that her children never went to bed hungry. Over the years she became a “solo what” while she was still married. That never discouraged her on staying at her home. She raised her kids alone but she never complained.

Life got tougher for her as the children grew older, meaning more responsibilities. She always encouraged her children in whatever they do to never quit school. When they were in primary it was not that difficult because she only needed to provide for the uniform and food. Years went by and the older ones went to the city to attend high school that meant more responsibilities for her and no one was helping her. This went on until they were all old and went to live their lives without her supervision, there things became more difficult as they started to bring father less children. But through that struggle she kept her family together and never stopped encouraging her children about the importance of education. In year 2014 she lost her husband after a short illness “may his soul rest in peace”.

Now she is a proud mother of four graduates, three completing college students and a grandmother to eight children, which is the only people she lives with. She is a happy soul slowly approaching her retirement date.

INTERESTS

She loves her church so very much, she says her God has been faithful to her and as a result some of her children has taken after her in trusting in the Lord. She says the only thing that kept her going over the years is prayer.

She has a garden where she grows vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, green pepper, carrot, beetroot etc. she loves her garden so much in such a way that she waters the plants even when it’s raining. She got a certification about planting her crops from a workshop she once attended for the love of her garden.

Her wish is for all children to be independent but, she says there will always be that one child who will go out of the way of your wishes and do what pleases her. She hopes she will never blame anyone in the future for the consequences of her actions.

Reference