Despite being born with a hearing impediment, Anderton Naidoo, an MBA student at MANCOSA private higher education institution, was determined to achieve academic success.
Naidoo, 44, from Durban defied his disability and completed the Master of Business Administration degree with distinction.
As a result of an ear infection followed by surgery at the age of four, Naidoo has been left completely deaf in his right ear and has only 25% natural hearing in his left ear.
He endured bullying at school because of his hearing disability and learnt how to lip-read.
After matriculating from Solvista Secondary School in Phoenix, he completed courses in marketing, public relations and customer relationship management.
However, he could not find permanent employment and worked as a part-time teller at a post office and also worked as a cleaner – even cleaning toilets – for three years.
After landing a full-time job as a training officer at an FMCG company, he decided to further his education and sought financial assistance from many businesses, without success. Eventually, his employer sponsored his MBA studies through SETA.
He said MANCOSA was “most considerate” and praised his MBA supervisor who, he said, was indeed a brilliant leader.
“The lecturers were understanding of my hearing disability and the research staff and support team were extremely helpful and gave me great guidance,” he said.
Naidoo said having a supportive wife and faith in God paid great dividends during his studies.
Naidoo who is a life coach and motivational speaker also assists people with disabilities to find employment and learnerships.
He has also completed three Comrades Marathons.
His advice to people with disabilities is to be positive and have the right attitude to make a difference in society.
“Love yourself, believe in yourself, and people will believe in you. Impress yourself first, then people will be impressed by you,” he said.
Professor Magnate Ntombela, principal of MANCOSA, said the institution acknowledges that inequalities of access to education throughout the education system for persons with disabilities mean that students with disabilities have in the past been – and continue to be – especially vulnerable to exclusion from higher education.
“Consequently, MANCOSA commits itself to ongoing development of admission, recruitment and retention practices and policies for persons with disabilities which will enhance participation in higher education at MANCOSA.
“MANCOSA will provide for the learning needs of students with disabilities, and recognises that this may in some cases entail modifying, substituting or supplementing curricula and course work requirements, including possible alternative, but equivalent, assessment modes; ensuring at all times that academic standards are not compromised and that students will graduate with the requisite skills and competencies.
“We are extremely proud to have played a part in making a meaningful contribution and difference in the life of a student with a hearing disability.
“When someone, like Naidoo, has an ambition and gets the appropriate or required support at the right time, he or she will achieve his ambitions. There is no obstacle that can possibly impede such a person,” he said.
ABOUT MANCOSA
MANCOSA, a leading provider of management programmes through supported distance learning in Southern Africa, is renowned for its MBA offering, which is ranked among the 10 of the best MBAs in Africa. A member of Honoris United Universities – the first Pan-African private higher education network focused on nurturing the next generation of African leaders and professionals. MANCOSA serves as an innovation hub for undergraduate and postgraduate management, offering 50 accredited programmes. A selection of Executive Education Short Learning Programmes is also offered to meet the requirements of professionals in both the private and public sectors. See: www.mancosa.co.za
For queries or additional information call 031 300 7200, email [email protected] or visit https://www.mancosa.co.za/.
About Honoris United Universities
Honoris United Universities is the first and largest Pan-African private higher education network committed to educating the next generation of African leaders and professionals able to impact regionally in a globalised world. Collaborative intelligence, cultural agility and mobile mind-sets and skills are at the heart of Honoris’ vision of higher education. Honoris United Universities joins the expertise of its member institutions to develop world-class African Human capital that is competitive in today’s fast-paced, demanding and increasingly digitised labour and start-up markets.
Honoris United Universities gathers a community of 57,000 students on 70 campuses, learning centres and via on-line, in 10 countries and 32 cities. The network counts 14 institutions: multidisciplinary universities, specialised schools, technical and vocational institutes, contact, distance, and online institutions. Students have an opportunity to experience exclusive partnerships and exchange programs in more than 85 universities across Europe and the United States. Over 300 degrees are offered in Health Sciences, Engineering, IT, Business, Law, Architecture, Creative Arts and Design, Media, Political Science and Education.
Honoris United Universities. Education for Impact. www.honoris.net
Issued by:
Yogin Devan
Meropa Communications
(031) 201 0550 / 083 326 3962
On behalf of:
Honoris United Universities
Durban