Rhodes University has mourned the passing of education giant, alumnus, and Order of the Baobab recipient, Dr William Smith.
Rhodes University mourns the passing of alumnus William Smith Image: Supplied“We honour his legacy, and wish to express our deepest condolences to his loved ones and all who were guided by some we consider to have been the teacher of the nation,” said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela.Williams Smith completed his BSc and his BSc , both with distinction, at Rhodes University.
During 20 years with Smith at the helm, Star Schools was responsible for some of the most innovative advancements in education ever seen in South Africa, including the Pre-University School, which prepared first-year students and was adopted by universities across the country. As a result of his work on this programme, Smith was voted one of the top three presenters on South African television in 1998.
Professor Mabizela said: “Thanks to his exceptional teaching skills and compassion, for almost two decades, the Learning Channel became an indispensable platform for young people of our country to receive interactive TV education in Mathematics and Science. In this way, he became the teacher for the entire South African nation.”
On his Rhodes University Distinguished Alumni Award, his nominator, Mr Mandilakhe Kila, Stakeholder Engagement Officer at Rhodes University, had this to say: “I saw it fit to nominate Smith because of the memorable influence he had had on my childhood and my generation. We would come back from school, and there he was, on TV, simplifying maths and physics. His passion made us want to learn more.”
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