those kinds of jobs, but I did not want to work there. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I finished school. A teacher, and nothing else.” In 1989 she started her Primary Teacher’s Certificate (PTC) at the National Teacher Training College. She graduated in 1991, with distinction. The following year, after applying to different schools, she was offered three posts. Two of them were located closer to her home in Mohale’s Hoek. It was an easy decision. “I came straight back to my roots,” she says with a broad smile. “This is my home. I thought that if I could do something good, I must do it where I am from.” Despite a daily commute that added to her monthly expenses, she was glad to be back in Morifi. St Thomas had changed a lot in 21 years. In 1994 the former principal left the school, and Moiloa was appointed in an acting capacity. Five years later, her position was made official. The same year her husband passed away. A further blow came when the foundation responsible for administering the pensions did not pay out his money. Moiloa had to call on her inner strength yet again to be able to support her family. Just as before, her belief in the power of education rang true, this time, however, from the position of principal. All four of her children finished school and then tertiary education. Today they are working as a salesman with Suzuki in Johannesburg, a lecturer and an aircraft engineer, with the youngest about to qualify as a mechanical engineer. Moiloa’s belief in the power of education as a catalyst for change has been confirmed by both personal and family experience. Hardship, rather than defeating her, has given her an understanding of life and a large inventory of
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tools to use in navigating its many storms. Over the past 22 years she has applied this knowledge to creating structures and systems at St Thomas. Moiloa’s leadership style is practical. An example of this is the culture of uniforms for women teachers. “Where ladies are together, they can mock each other,” she explains. “We are not equal at home and so clothing can become something that divides people. A uniform makes us together, it helps us to become a family … “I was born to a poor family, so I know what it feels like not to have, when others do. I don’t want people to feel bad or look down on themselves. I want everyone to be happy because that is how we get their best.” Every day, the women teachers arrive dressed in a similar way. Their uniform has not only removed unhealthy competition at school, but also acts as a bonding experience. The point is not to be identical but united, and so they choose the fabric and pay for the tailoring together, but each one has the freedom to add her signature to her final design. The impact of this is obvious in the interaction between the five women, who appear more like sisters than colleagues. When asked what her school’s biggest need is, Moiloa’s answer is unexpected. “Water.” She goes on to explain that the greatest challenge at St Thomas is hunger. Many of the learners at the school come from food-insecure homes. Those from childheaded households only eat when they come to school, or if food parcels are given to them for weekends and holidays. Water is needed to irrigate the large