Department of Science and Technology Education
Wits University’s first student to graduate with a master’s degree in Science Education
Like many boys, Prof Nkopodi grew up in the rural areas of Sekhukhune district, in Groblersdal. Where he completed both his primary and secondary education. This was when parents still paid for what was known as “tshelete ya moago”, meaning building money. Parents had to contribute towards the building of the school, for their children to stay in school. If the parents were unable to do so, this meant that their children would not be permitted to attend school.
He completed his Bsc degree in Mathematics at the University of the North, which is now known as the University of Limpopo. Surprisingly, Prof Nkopodi’s first choice of study was engineering at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), as mathematics was his strong suit. His dream was short-lived, after being denied permission by the minister. As back in those days, for an African student to study engineering, which was only offered at what was known to be white universities. They would have to obtain permission from the minister, to study the course. After completing his teaching diploma, he was then headhunted for teacher training by one of the teacher training colleges in Limpopo, specifically for science and mathematics education.
Years later, Prof Nkopodi applied at Wits University, where he completed his honours in Science Education and was the first student to graduate with a master’s degree in Science Education at Wits University. After completing his PhD, he was contracted as a research officer at Wits and later joined Unisa’s Faculty of Education as a junior lecturer. Where he was the 3rd black academic to join the faculty, after Prof Lebeloane (who is still in the Department of Science and Technology Education) and Prof Maseko (who has now retired).
After enduring years of hard knock experience as an academic in what was predominately a white world, Prof Nkopodi deems that he never lived up to his full potential. He believes that the lack of a good research mentor, contributed to have not published articles at an early stage of his career like he should have. “Having had my NRF grant applications rejected for reasons I considered contradictory at the time, I think that’s where I lost interest. At that point, I needed someone who had walked the road before, to reassure me of my capabilities, and basically letting me know that it was part of the journey as a researcher".
However, even though he may not have risen to where he would have wanted. His greatest blessing as an experienced academic in the College of Education, is assisting those that come after him to rise far beyond where he got stuck. His sole ambition in life, is to see his mentees fly, rather than running. The milestone of his career was when he led the Physical Sciences National Curriculum Statement in the country and subsequently got involved in many workshops to assist in its implementation.
The Department of Science and Technology Education will continue to celebrate the giant successes of your academic journey.
* By Moleboheng Ramulumo
Publish date: 2021-04-30 00:00:00.0
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