Good Hope Primary School in Kuils River, Cape Town, starts off the year with a brand-new principal! Cecil Beukes is no stranger to academia and served the Cape Conference as Education Director for several years. We reached out to him and want to share our conversation with you. (read more…)
WRCC: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW APPOINTMENT! PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU THINK YOUR BACKGROUND HAS PREPARED YOU FOR YOUR NEW ROLE.
I started my teaching career in 1994 with the WCED as a Mathematics teacher. I subsequently continued part-time studies with B.Ed. Honours, M.Ed. respectively and completed in 2006. I enrolled in a Mathematics INSET training programme with Cambridge University and represented South Africa with 14 other teachers as members of the International Conference on Mathematics Education (ICME) in Spain. I left the WCED in 2003 and served as a Foreign Missionary in South Korea for three (3) years. After my return, I started PHD studies at Stellenbosch University and graduated in 2010. I served Good Hope High School for 18 months and moved to the Cape Conference where I served as Education Director for over 11 years.
WRCC: EVERY PRIMARY SCHOOL BOY AND GIRL HAS EXCITEDLY EXCLAIMED, ‘WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE…’ PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU HAD ASPIRED TO BECOME AS A CHILD & WHY YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDED ON EDUCATION.
I wanted to be an attorney. As I grew up and became actively involved with church work, I foolishly believed that I could not serve God whilst being an attorney. I conscientiously chose education because it is my passion to teach and work with human resources. I do consider it a calling. In this way, I can contribute my teaspoon of knowledge to benefit others and benefit from the mountain of knowledge held by learners and teachers.
WHAT HAS THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT YOU AS AN EDUCATOR THAT MOVES YOU TO MAKE CHANGES IN HOW YOU PERCEIVE EDUCATION, STUDENTS OR TEACHING?
The pandemic confirmed that we live in a global village and that education can be conducted without the physical presence of teachers. As a result, we were able to conduct online classes and systematically equip all our classes with interactive smart boards and data projectors.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A PARENT WHO STRUGGLES TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO AN ADVENTIST SCHOOL?
Education is a spiritual matter. EG White says: “Education and redemption are one,” hence parents must understand that they make a decision that has spiritual implications on the spiritual life of generations to come.
HOW WOULD YOU SAY GHPS PROMOTES THE STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ADVENTIST CHURCH?
Our learners are actively involved in leadership and evangelism. They participate in chapel events which provide exposure to both Adventist and non-Adventist learners. We also engage learners in Adventist Education promotional visits to churches and community outreach programmes. I agree with EG White that schools are centres of evangelism and, as such, Adventist Education provides children with a better opportunity to become loyal and active church leaders in the future. I believe that Adventist schools are gateways to heaven and I need to prepare myself for eternity.
