In celebration of Women’s Month, we look into the life of an inspiring woman’s rise to the top from the most humblest of beginnings.
Phoenix Pioneer Primary School has paid tribute to Sureshini Nagan, 47, a former cleaner, who worked her way up the ranks to become an admin clerk, proving that hard work and dedication is the key to success.
Fondly known as aunty Rani, Sureshini matriculated at Earlington Secondary School in 1993. She married Collin Pakkiry and thereafter moved to Cardinal Road in Stonebridge. She then had two children, a girl and a boy and later enrolled them at Phoenix Pioneer Primary School in 2008. Aunty Rani volunteered her services to the school as a cleaner and helped wherever she could to ensure the smooth operation of the school day.
The principal of Phoenix Pioneer Primary School, Mrs Neesha Chetty said: “In 2010, aunty Rani became employed by the school governing body as a cleaner, however she was not limited by that appointment. She took it upon herself to be the guardian of the learners that were not fetched on time by parents or transporters, sometimes even feeding them because they were often left until very late without extra lunch. She opened and closed the school classrooms and the administration block and ensured that children were received into the school property safely in the mornings and left the same way at the end of the day.”
“She helped with the school’s nutrition programme often filling in to cook, serve and wash up after lunch. After many years of hard work, honesty, compassion, kindness and proving her worth, aunty Rani moved up the ranks and became the assistant to the administrator, Mrs Selvie Naidoo at Phoenix Pioneer Primary School. Here, some of her duties included stock take, printing of exam scripts and tests, reception and filing,” said Mrs Chetty.
After three years under the watchful eye of the principal, Mrs Chetty who groomed Rani and saw much potential, she began to blossom and learn more about the role of an admin clerk. This gave Rani the confidence she needed to step into the role of admin clerk as then administrator, Selvie Naidoo retired at the end of May after 40 years of being at Phoenix Pioneer Primary School.
“Aunty Rani continues to serve the parents and learners of the school with the same dedication she started with in 2008. Rani’s new role at Phoenix Pioneer has brought new blessings and grace to our school. On behalf of the staff, members of the school governing body and learners of Phoenix Pioneer Primary School, I wish to congratulate Rani on her continued growth and commitment to our school. We salute you,” added Chetty.
