Languages: 
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has named WSU alumna, Zandisiwe Ngayo, Best Physical Sciences Teacher in the province, an achievement she described as humbling and motivating.
A teacher at Mdantsane’s Mzomhle High School, Ngayo said that the award came at the backdrop of teaching in unfavourable conditions such as poor infrastructure, a lack of equipment and a student population that is dealing with socio-economic challenges.
Despite these setbacks, the 31-year-old teacher has made it her mission to use her classroom as a platform to inspire future engineers, doctors, and scientists.
In her steadfast dedication to producing world class results, Ngayo employed unorthodox teaching methods, improvising where she lacked resources, and explaining difficult concepts using the everyday experiences of her learners.
“We do everything in our power and means to see our kids obtaining good science marks so they can go back and solve these problems where they can. We go beyond our call of duty means to tutor, and mentor, whilst parenting them all at the same time,” said Ngayo.
In recent years, the South African pass mark was reduced to a mere 30%, making it easier for learners to move to the next grade, while subsequently hindering their progress to tertiary education as they fail to meet the minimum entry requirements for institutions of higher learning.
As a teacher in one of the most underperforming provinces in physics and maths, Ngayo is determined to help change the narrative by ensuring that her learners achieve more than the proscribed pass mark.
In 2023, she made waves offering physical science lessons for matriculants on the airwaves of local radio station, Mdantsane FM.
“My goal is to improve science education and enable our learners to break the mentality that 30% pass is enough and enable them to obtain at least 50% and above in Physical Sciences. By ensuring good quality and useful pass, we can build students that are fit for the 21st century. This extends to every school and community I step into or reach with my voice atleast,” she said.
Ngayo cut her teeth in the subject while pursuing her National Diploma in Analytical chemistry from WSU. She further obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from UNISA, and a Bachelor of Technology in chemistry from WSU.
Born and bred from humble beginnings in Butterworth, Ngayo vowed to pursue excellence, and play it forward to the next generation.
“My time as a student in WSU taught me resilience, dedication, patience, hard work. One of the things that inspire me and encourage me daily is seeing the lives of the learners I had encounters with change for the better, obtaining marks that enable them to go study science related field studies. They, in turn start impacting and adding value to their families, communities and the world,” said Ngayo.
By Yanga Ziwele
