Vihonga Kazonganga
Vihonga Kazonganga is a civil servant and a dedicated, resourceful and goal-driven professional teacher with a solid commitment to the social and academic growth and development of every child.
She has been working in public service for the past six years after joining in 2018, fresh from the University of Namibia. She remains at Rehoboth High School, where she was placed since joining the teaching profession.
Questioned what attracted her to public service, the Windhoek-born and bred through parents who originate from the Otjozondjupa region points out that what glued her to this is the career progression, support and stability in terms of job security and work-life balance.
“I always wanted to be a teacher. I could remember my childhood days looking up to teachers, and saying in my mind ‘I want to be like them’. I was motivated by their strong guidance, leadership and compassion. I knew that I wanted to do the same thing when I grew up,” she noted.
Kazonganga added that teaching is an exciting and rewarding career, where one can help transform pupils’ lives through the delivery of quality education.
She described herself as a warm and caring teacher who wants all children to be successful learners, and thus works to create a classroom atmosphere that is stimulating, encouraging and adaptive to the varied needs of pupils.
Although she majored in English and History, she currently only teaches English.
Kazonganga said the duties of a teacher are much more than standing at the front of a classroom and delivering lessons. “They are second parents to children: influential figures with whom they spend an immeasurable amount of time during their most formative years”.
Behind the scenes, a lot of work goes into planning and preparing for lessons, and providing additional support to pupils.
“My responsibilities are to teach, facilitate learning by assessing progress and evaluating my practices, guide, motivate, inspire and care for the learners. Mentoring the learners’ representative council and other varying delegated tasks by my supervisors, principal and other colleagues are also part of the many responsibilities assigned to me,” she asserted.
There is no profession without challenges, and for Kazonganga, getting to know learners and understanding their different learning abilities, and motivating and encouraging them when they under-perform are some of the things she faces.
“Working with learners from different backgrounds, I have to be accommodating and considerate of each of their individual needs,” she said.
What is fulfilling about her job is knowing that teaching both subject-related and life lessons does impact learners.
“It’s really rewarding to know that I have taught people who have gone on to become successful, responsible citizens of Namibia,” she observed proudly.
Asked how her expertise is beneficial to the public service, Kazonganga was upbeat.
“I educate the youth, thus contributing to nation-building. Public speaking and debating are two things I’m passionate about – skills I aim to instill in my learners. I’m currently running the debate club at my school, and we are planning to have a regional competition soon. It is really rewarding to see learners perform well in these”.
Some of her memorable moments include the debate club, which allows her to mentor and empower learners who once could not stand before others and speak through different school clubs, being able to help learners transition from one grade to the next on merit, and the continuous other positive impacts made on learners.
Asked about the public perception that civil servants are unproductive and inefficient, Kazonganga had this to say, “I do not agree with this sentiment at all. Teaching is a profession which does not allow one to be unproductive and inefficient. This is so because after planning to teach and assess, there is also marking and admin work that must be done”.
She is indeed harbouring plans to serve the country for as long as her health allows her, while continuously developing professionally.