For a Limpopo teacher who has been giving his pupils extra classes for free, the possibility of winning the $1m (R19.4m) Global Teacher Prize is almost unthinkable.
But if Mokolwane Masweneng, 42, an English teacher at Dithothwaneng Senior Secondary School in Limpopo, wins, he will not use the money for himself.
Masweneng and Mariette Wheeler, 44, who teaches at Protea Heights Academy in Cape Town, have been included in the top 50 shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023.
The initiative is organised in collaboration with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and Dubai Cares, a global philanthropic organisation based in the UAE.
The two South Africans were chosen from more than 7,000 nominations and applications from 130 countries.
Masweneng, who also teaches geography to matric pupils and history to grade 10 pupils, said he was “humbled and excited” about the recognition he received “for exercising my responsibilities of giving black children the quality education they deserve”.
While thousands of other teachers provide extra tuition to pupils for a fee, he has been tutoring for free since 2011.
He has been instrumental in encouraging children to participate in soccer, debate, drama, poetry, dance and gardening in a bid “to help to clear their minds from other challenges and social ills they might have”.
“My goal is to build a better society for rural children. A society in which these children can reach their full potential by making mental health the priority.”
Masweneng said mental health-related issues affect pupils’ school performance and interpersonal relationships.
“Their level of confidence, sometimes, is low — to such an extent that it leads to suicide and dropouts. Some of these children excel in activities outside the classroom that boost their confidence. Once they feel included, their participation improves.”
He has also challenged cultural norms hindering the education of girls by addressing issues such as teenage pregnancy and the lack of sanitary towels.
“I am using my own money and seek donations from well-wishers for sanitary towels to restore the dignity of girls.”
He has also encouraged girls to participate in activities through Skype collaborations.
“I am making a huge difference because my pupils engage with their counterparts globally. I am bringing opportunities to a rural child through technology tools. This has helped in building the personality of girls as they begin to realise the importance of education in overcoming negative attitudes and cultural practices that prevent female participation in education.”
Masweneng said most parents in his community “believe it is useless to send a girl to school because of the cultural belief of marriage”.
“In my community, girls are still encouraged to do domestic chores for obvious reasons of being future wives and mothers.”
If he was declared the winner, he will build a school for girls, especially orphans, as he lived in a community with a huge number of child-headed households.
Mariette Wheeler: the teacher who is also a marine biologist
Wheeler is a marine biologist who studied the behaviour of penguins, seals and albatrosses on Marion Island. She teaches natural sciences to grades 8 and 9 pupils and life sciences and marine sciences to grades 10 to 12.
It is an honour to represent the school and South African teachers and be among those shortlisted for the prize, she said.
“It will increase the work teachers do daily in our classrooms.”
While pursuing her doctoral studies in zoology through the University of Cape Town in 2004 and 2005, she investigated the effects of human disturbance on seabirds and seals on Marion Island.
Wheeler went back to Marion Island in 2013 and 2014 and after returning decided to become a teacher.
All teachers are champions in their own class. Teach with passion as that will ignite curiosity among learners
— Mariette Wheeler
She completed a postgraduate certificate in education at the University of Cape Town in 2015 and started teaching. “I want to share my love for nature with learners. Through my teaching and activities I organise, I have the opportunity to get learners involved in conservation issues where they can make a difference,” she said.
She believes science should not be seen by pupils as “subject knowledge” but as actively observing and asking questions about nature around them.
She has taken pupils on excursions to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town and organised camps for grade 12 pupils studying marine sciences.
“My learners love learning their terminology through charade-like class competitions. I also encourage class discussions and class debates.”
Since November 2020 she has also been making recordings monthly about marine life — for example, plankton, dolphins and the sea star — which have been broadcast on Radio Pulpit.
“All teachers are champions in their own class. Teach with passion as that will ignite curiosity among learners,” she said.
If she bags the $1m prize, she would like to use the money to set up a medical centre for teenagers, increase her church’s efforts in sustainable community building and set up a mobile science equipment unit that can travel between schools.
Wheeler would also like to create a dedicated venue for the study of marine sciences.
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