Oscar Apollis (64) spent more than 40 years in the education sector and believes that “home and school must talk the same language”.
Apollis, who served as the provincial Safe Schools manager for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) since 2016, served his last day in office on Thursday 30 June after 42 years in the sector.
The Kensington resident says his teaching career started in 1980 and adds that “I never chose education, it chose me”.
Apollis says his first post was at Peak View Secondary in Bridgetown where he spent 18 years and later became acting principal.
From there he moved on to Voorspoed Primary School in Hanover Park where he later became deputy principal.
But according to Apollis, he wanted to become a priest after matric but was advised to pursue a different career path.
He ended up studying education, a decision that he until today does not regret.
“After matric I wanted to go into the priesthood, as I was very involved in the church. But my uncle convinced me otherwise. Once I started studying, I realised this is where I should be.”
The former geography teacher says being an educator is a major task.
“What I like about teaching is that you are able to impact the lives of children at a young age where they can still be changed. I was quite involved with the young people. I started hiking clubs and camps.”
Apollis explains that in 2006 he was approached by the late Nariman Khan, who served as the then provincial Safe Schools manager, to come and assist her with the provincial school safety project.
The WCED’s Safe Schools Programme works with schools to ensure safe school environments needed for successful teaching and learning.
According to the department’s website, the Safe Schools has a whole-of-society approach to safety promotion and violence prevention and works in partnership with numerous stakeholders.
These stakeholders include the South African Police Service, the department of community safety, the department of social development, and the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement division.
Apollis explains that he accepted Khan’s offer and worked closely under her leadership until she tragically died in a car accident.
When Khan died Apollis was the acting provincial manager from 2014 to 2015 and was officially appointed to the position in 2016.
Apollis explains that it was challenging making the switch from being a teacher for several years and now having to sit behind a desk in an office.
“At the schools, I was in charge and now at head office I needed to ask permission for everything. But I grew through that and within two years I found my feet. And I had the pleasure of working with four education MEC’s in the province.”
He explains that the role did not come without challenges as his responsibility included all schools in the Western Cape, a role which meant he travelled frequently.
“It wasn’t an easy task, but it was a rewarding one. The fact that you are able to assist the teacher, the learner and the community through stakeholders to create safe spaces was rewarding.”
Apollis believes the Safe Schools programme is the “reason why learning can take place in certain high-risk areas”.
“School safety never started with security guards and safety gates, it started with creative and constructive approaches through conflict management and mediation that is something that was trained by Khan and that is what we push at safe schools.”
The father of one says he “salutes” teachers for the difficult circumstances under which they teach.
He encourages parents and communities to take ownership of their schools.
“The more residents and parents get involved in schools, the more they will understand and know what is happening so that as a community we take responsibility.”
When asked how he will now be spending his time, he says: “I will now spend much more time with my family. My wife, daughter and two grandchildren. My family always supported me. I feel relaxed, I don’t have to constantly be with my cellphone.”
He explains that he will now take on tasks like gardening and woodwork.
Something that is music to his wife Myrna’s ears.
“It’s good to have him home. I know he won’t just stop working, especially with all the experience he has, so I will grant him that.”
And she is right, Apollis already has a few big projects that he wants to take on and he explains that one of them is that “I want to focus on student teachers”.
Apollis believes that “everybody has good in them, nobody is born bad. And I believe in second chances”, a motto he lives by.
