SANDILE “Maths-Son” Mathebula has joined the list of a few local teachers, recognised on a global stage for the excellent work they do in the classroom.
The 29-year-old maths and science teacher, who works at Siphumelele Secondary School in Mzingazi outside Richards Bay, northern KZN, recently scooped an international award for Best Maths Teacher.
He was competing with more than 50 countries at the Global Teachers’ Awards, held in India.
Sandile said he believed that when you did what you loved with passion, everything else that came along was just a cherry on top.
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“This is the first award I’ve ever won since I started teaching professionally in 2021. I believe it is the key to unlocking other doors,” he said, adding that receiving the nomination alone was already a win for him.
He further said he did no expect to win as he was competing against other countries.
“It was very scary, but I believe my work is what made me come out on top. For me, teaching is not about getting awards but about changing the lives of pupils and making an impact everywhere I go.”
Sandile said what set him apart was the fact that teaching did not begin or end when the school bell started ringing. Rather, it started even before he got his qualification because he had always been passionate about the subjects.
“I started helping pupils after I completed matric and in 2018, I joined an organisation that helps to simplify both subjects for them to understand better. Then I enrolled for a teaching qualification to advance my knowledge,” he added.
He shared that he was given his nickname by the pupils he helped because he taught maths so smoothly it was as if the subject was his father.
He said the award meant that anything was possible, and so his dream of writing a mathematics book would also come true one day.
