'Contrary to popular belief, I was an average student, I wasn’t smart in maths.'
Veteran teacher William Smith is honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa for his contribution to maths and sciences.Veteran teacher William Smith, whose 16-year stint as a television tutor earned him star status, says he was not great at maths in school, but perhaps that was the secret to him becoming a great teacher.
Smith, 79, who received the Order of the Baobab for his contribution in maths and science, says whenever a pupil asked him a question, he did not only try to simplify it in the best way possible, but also put himself in the shoes of the pupil, and reminded himself that, for many years, he was just as lost.
He believes the current South African education system needs to equip pupils with skills that will help them succeed in their careers and in solving real-life problems. Smith says his career in television had a difficult start. The SABC was initially reluctant to give him and his team a platform to offer lessons live on television because that had not been done before.
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