Prof. Nkidi Phatudi, Director in the School of Teacher Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education.

Who is Prof Phatudi?

Humbly answering the question – I started as an ECE (Early Childhood Education) academic more than 35 years ago. I worked as a high school teacher for two years, then went to Rhodes University for my Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, which is now equated to a B.Ed. honors degree. When I arrived at Rhodes, I found out that they also offered B.Ed. honors in primary education. I became really interested in it, so much so that I would even attend the lectures with the primary education students even though I wasn’t registered for the degree. I really loved it. I then came back home to Ga-Rankuwa and went straight to a College of Education. When the college started offering primary education, I volunteered to coordinate the section. And that’s where my journey as an ECE academic started. I was then given a scholarship by the Bophuthatswana government to go to Leeds University in UK to do a six-month course in junior primary methodology. This was complemented by my HED (Higher Education Diploma) in Pre-primary education obtained with Unisa in 1991. I immersed myself in the field and it’s been my area of expertise ever since.

How did you manage to balance being a mother and your chosen career in academics?

It was very difficult, I won’t lie.  Sometimes I would have meetings that ran very late, and I would have to ask my colleagues to summarize, as I have to go home and cook for my family. And they would be surprised that I still carry out such responsibilities at home – they most probably thought I had outsourced them. Yes, I may be a professor, however I still had my household duties as the woman of the house. I supervised my children’s homework and would still do my house chores if time permitted. As difficult as the journey was, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I took a break in my studies when I had my children, and I picked up my studies again when my children were a bit older. I remember that for my master’s degree I was a taxi mum, taking my children and their friends from one sports activity to the other. However, to get time to study, I would have to wait until my children went to bed and I would go to bed with them. I would then wake up around 1 am and work on my dissertation the entire morning until the time they would wake up. At that time, I would then put my work aside, so I could spend time with them.

It was tough, but for some reason we women were born to multitask. However, times have changed, one doesn’t have to do it all alone and suffer in silence. If you can afford help, do seek for help. The academic journey can be very overwhelming so put your mental health first. Luckily, when I did my PhD, my daughter was already in university, and I had time to myself and my studies.

Experience as Chair of Department and Director in the College of Education

I started as a Chair of Department (COD) at the South African College for Continuing Education. It was an in-service college for teachers around the country. I then moved to the University of Pretoria, where I was the founding head of the Department of Early Childhood Education. From there on I moved to UNISA. I really . Yes, as manager you are given the space and platform to make decisions, however you must still work within specific frameworks, policies, and guidelines of the institution. I came to UNISA in 2015 and was appointed as the COD in 2016. You know, when you come into a new space, you find politics and people are not always receptive to a new person or an ‘outsider.’ However, I knew very well why I was there. No, I didn’t achieve my mandate overnight. But once I put all systems in place and everyone was doing what they were supposed to do and working towards one cause, I ended up with one solid department, which superseded even my own expectations. I am proud of the Department and the achievements they made- from the time I was appointed to the present day.

And then when I came in as director, people told me I was stepping into the big shoes, of the previous School Director. And I told them, I'm not stepping into anyone’s shoes; I am bringing my own stilettoes, so please get that right. Yes, the former school director was this brilliant leader and we worked well together and even when he left, he still held me in high esteem- and I thought highly of him. My role as a director, I only must deal with CODs, and I must say it's a breath of fresh air. CODs know why they are appointed to those positions and make my job easier. I would say I am coping as the director; I’ve put systems in place in terms of the smooth running of the school itself, and I must say I couldn’t have done this without the help of my CODs. I know the strengths and capabilities of each one of the COD’s. I give them opportunities in our meetings to showcase and share their expertise with one another- and this exercise is appreciated by all.  Skills and knowledge sharing take place seamlessly- and this is what makes the school self- assured and determined that no task is big and difficult- it only needs the right state of mind – and everything will fall in place.

#Written by Moleboheng Ramulumo

#Assissted by Mahlako Chuene