Principal Qupha in South Africa likes to help people
Coming from a poor background did not stop Alfred Qupha (36) from becoming the principal of the SOS Children's Villages Primary School in Umtata (Mthatha). |
Alfred was just eleven years old when his parents separated, and he began living with his grandmother. Due to the trauma of losing his parents and having to change schools during the middle of the year in grade four, he failed. He was deeply affected by the instability and insecurity he felt. Little by little, he began to settle down and started to excel at school once again. Unfortunately, a few years later, his grandmother died; his mother came to fetch him, and they moved again. "My mother worked in kitchens in KwaZulu-Natal, and during that time we (Alfred and his six siblings) lived alone. Mother used to send a little money. Normally, we got about R80 (USD 13) every month, and with that, we had to pay school fees, buy groceries and whatever else we could. When I was in grade six, I got used to not eating breakfast because there was no food. I just went to school and then ate when I came back. Often we had nothing to eat, and we would have to go to the neighbours to ask them for food. Sometimes we had to wait maybe two or three months before we got money from our mother. So, that's how we grew up," stated Alfred.
"When I reached Matric (grade twelve), my mother was not working anymore, and so I had to depend on my elder brother, who was working in the mines, to pay my school fees. The problem came when I finished Matric and wanted to go to the tertiary level. By then, my brother was not working in the mines anymore because of the 1990s war in the mines, and so there was no money," remembered Alfred. Fortunately for Alfred, there was a kind-hearted teacher who recognized his potential and agreed to pay his tertiary fees. Mr Brown was from Ghana, and he taught us English and Agriculture. He paid my fees. He didn't want me to pay him back," said an amazed Alfred.
"When I reached Matric (grade twelve), my mother was not working anymore, and so I had to depend on my elder brother, who was working in the mines, to pay my school fees. The problem came when I finished Matric and wanted to go to the tertiary level. By then, my brother was not working in the mines anymore because of the 1990s war in the mines, and so there was no money," remembered Alfred. Fortunately for Alfred, there was a kind-hearted teacher who recognized his potential and agreed to pay his tertiary fees. Mr Brown was from Ghana, and he taught us English and Agriculture. He paid my fees. He didn't want me to pay him back," said an amazed Alfred.
After completing his teacher's diploma at Cicira College of Education in Umtata (Mthatha), Alfred joined a school in Umtata as a temporary teacher. He also continued his studies part-time while working and completed a Bachelor of Education in Maths and Science. While Alfred was teaching at a private school, his father passed away, and he had to make funeral arrangements, collect his father's body, and bring it back to the rural homelands near Port St Johns, where he was born. After the funeral and necessary cultural and religious observances, Alfred returned to Umtata and joined the SOS Children's Villages Primary School in January 2001 as a teacher specializing in Maths and Science. Fast-tracking because of his sense of responsibility and popularity among his peers, Alfred filled the vacancy of principal in December 2001.
"What I like most about being a principal, and I think it helps that I come from a poor background, is interacting with people. That's when you see how you are helping people. I feel great then. I don't only see myself as a leader but also a community developer, and that's what being at SOS is all about." Partly due to Alfred's desire to help children, the SOS Children's Villages Primary School's scholarship programme has grown by over 100% in the last year. In 2004, the school had a total of 76 scholarship children, and following a successful door-to-door campaign in 2005, the number increased to 153. The school also offers computer, home economics, and art classes to the disadvantaged community. The computer class currently has 28 computers, with plans to purchase 7 more, as there are 35 students per class. The school has also invited other schools to observe their programmes, as these are known to be of a high standard.
When Alfred is not at school, he likes spending time with his wife and friends. He also has ambitions to do an Honours degree in School Management. Alfred still keeps in contact with Mr Browns, who is still a teacher at Ntafufu Secondary School and very proud of his protégé.
When Alfred is not at school, he likes spending time with his wife and friends. He also has ambitions to do an Honours degree in School Management. Alfred still keeps in contact with Mr Browns, who is still a teacher at Ntafufu Secondary School and very proud of his protégé.