Report from a Time Travel at Betania mission, Nyandezulu
Scenario, School Inspection at Betania mission in 1912
The school at the Betania mission has started off and developed quite well. As the first rural school on the South Coast it attracts many learners from far away but also from the surrounding villages. Betania mission has become a center for the community with a small clinic and support for those ho need it. But now dark clouds are coming up. The space for black rural schools seems to decrease. The government in the new Union is heading towards a more segregated society. People at the Betania mission are worried. Today is an important day because the School Inspector is coming. He will inspect the school and all the education. His report is decisive for the future of the school. What will he say? Everybody – learners, teachers, community and church members, has to help to prepare the school for inspection, clean the surroundings, brush the floors, have well-conducted lessons.
Key questions: Is education important? Why? Does everybody have a chance to equal and comparable education on all levels? If not, how can we achieve that?
The reason for choosing Betania mission is that this place has a lot of history. The local history of his mission is not recorded and it is not taught at schools. Learners and teachers from the Insingizi Primary school and the Ingwemabala Comprehensive High School took part in the Time Travels. These two schools are a product of the original Betania mission school which was established in 1905. The Time Travels at Betania mission 1912 were outstanding with very engaged learners.
Future plans:
- Conduct more Time travels in the area
- Register Betania mission as a heritage site
- Develop the mission as an attraction for tourists so that the community can benefit economically
- Record the history of the mission so that it can be taught at schools
- Train more teachers on the Time Travel methodology
Dudu Malinga and Quaphela MvundlaThe Nyandezulu Time Travel Group
