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Reflections on power, knowledge and belonging from the Free State and Mpumalanga Immersion Three things were said at our Free State and Mpumalanga Immersion that I have not been able to put down.  A Foundation Phase teacher told us that she had wanted to attend a science workshop. Her colleagues talked her out of it. […]

“I’m not teaching children anymore — I’m teaching the Annual Teaching Plan,” Rendani, a Foundation phase teacher, told us in quiet resignation. “I have passion for this thing, but I think I’m tired. I am not better than when I entered the system,” she added. It was hard to hear and equally difficult to say. […]

Why the Foundation Phase Needs Men Like Mr. Msomi, and What He’s Teaching Us About Fatherhood in South Africa  A reflection for Father’s Day, 21 June 2026  There is a sentence that follows men into Foundation Phase classrooms in South Africa, half curse and half compliment, said with raised eyebrows by colleagues and parents: “You are a male teacher, but you […]

In Cape Town, a child living on the Cape Flats does not always wake up to the certainty of safe passage to school. Gang violence, poverty and systemic inequality shape whether learning can even begin. Classrooms are disrupted not by bombs, but by bullets, hunger and fear. I think of a pupil I taught, Kaylin. […]

A Grade 2 teacher who put 1,500 books into the hands of learners in Mahikeng A little while back, Zama mentioned a teacher I had to speak to, someone who had run a book drive that was doing real work in her community. That teacher is Tshegofatso Seitlhamo, a Foundation Phase Educator teaching Grade 2 […]

Reflections from the Teachers CAN CPTD Learning Circle  By Steven Mollo  What happens when teachers are given space to openly discuss the realities, frustrations, and possibilities of Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD)?  At the recent Teachers CAN CPTD Learning Circle, the answer became clear: teachers are eager for practical support, honest conversation, and peer-led learning […]

Reflecting on the First Teachers CAN Network Café of 2026  The first Teachers CAN Network Café of 2026 created an important space for teachers across the network to reflect on a critical question: What does innovation and technology in schools really mean?  What made the session particularly powerful was that it was led by teachers from […]

When we think about teachers, we often picture their role within the classroom. At Teachers CAN, we are increasingly recognising that teachers are not only educators — they are also powerful systems-change actors. In the deep rural stretches of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, education is often measured in marks, pass rates, and curriculum coverage. But after seven years […]

The “form trap” is described as a tendency in social change work to become so focused on external forms such as frameworks, structures and rituals to the extent that one loses sight of the lived, inner experience of those inside the organisation.   Scholars studying this phenomenon argue that real transformation depends not only on what an organisation does, but on how it “feels” and functions. This insight resonates deeply with our own […]

Teacher collaboration often begins quietly — around a table, in shared reflection, and in moments of reconnection. For Nyambeni Nthambeleni and Nhlanhla Mgobhozi, that beginning took place at the Gauteng Immersion in July, part of the Teachers CAN Multiplier Programme 2025.  The immersion experience reignited a sense of purpose, strengthened relationships among teachers, and created a supportive professional network grounded in trust […]

On Community and Collaboration in Teaching  UNESCO’s theme for World Teachers’ Day 2025 – “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession” – has been sitting with me. Especially because through the years of championing the Teachers CAN Multiplier Programme, I’ve watched this idea shift from slogan to practice – teachers choosing community, choosing shared learning and choosing to solve problems together. I’ve seen what […]

As we reflect on the recently released 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results; we at Teachers CAN extend our deepest gratitude and admiration to you, the teachers. This year, the Class of 2025 has made history with a record 88% pass rate in the NSC exams, the highest our nation has ever seen. For the first time, every province achieved above […]

Running can often be misconstrued as an individual sport; one person, one road, one finish line, but anyone who has ever been part of a running club knows this; running alone is hard, but running together makes all the difference Many people give up on running not because they lack discipline or ability, but because […]

I write this with a heart full of joy, having witnessed the true power of parental engagement in school activities. As Steven Mollo, Network & Engagement Lead for Teachers CAN, once said, “I don’t know what parental engagement is.” Indeed, the results of our journey show that many of us are only beginning to grasp […]

Facilitating the recent Teachers CAN immersion was one of the most grounding experiences of my journey as an educator. I could feel the weight of what it means to hold space, not just to lead discussions, but to create a place where teachers could arrive as their full selves. As a participant, I once came […]

South Africa’s teachers stand on the frontlines of our democracy’s greatest promise: education as a pathway to equality, dignity, and opportunity. Every day, they navigate overcrowded classrooms, scarce resources, and the weight of societal inequalities—yet they remain the backbone of our education system. And still, their voices are too often absent in the very conversations […]

In a recent session with teachers, a powerful and sobering conversation unfolded. Teachers shared openly about the realities of trying to advocate for themselves and for one another within their schools. What emerged was not just individual frustration but a collective struggle that many teachers can deeply relate to.  Advocacy in education is not a […]

As I move through spaces with teachers across South Africa, I am reminded again and again: “Teachers are not just part of the education system — they are the system.” Every conversation, every circle, every moment of reflection affirms one truth: Teachers are the heartbeat of change.  And yet, even the most committed among us sometimes feel […]

“Teachers are not just coping-they’re catalysing. And they’re doing it together.”  Across South Africa, teachers are navigating a daily reality that stretches far beyond what they were trained for. Teaching in overcrowded classrooms. Managing under-resourced schools. Supporting learners facing deep trauma and poverty. And doing so with little recognition, minimal institutional support, and all too […]

By Steven Mollo- Teachers CAN Network Engagement Lead   This year, during multiple immersion sessions in Gauteng and the Northwest, one theme came through louder than any other: the mental health of teachers.  It came through in the stories they shared, sometimes in hushed voices, with tears they tried to hold back. Many spoke of the […]

The Multiplier Programme Immersion is always a highlight of our year – a time to meet with our Lead Multipliers in person, learn from one another and deepen our shared commitment to change in education. This year, we are focusing on three provinces – Gauteng, Limpopo and North West. The gatherings, held during the June […]

During Day 2 of our 2025 Lead Multiplier Immersion, teachers took part in a simple yet revealing challenge: build the tallest free-standing tower using everyday materials. What unfolded was more than just a creative icebreaker – it was a window into how we work together, how we handle pressure, and how our personalities influence collaboration. […]

Youth month celebrates the activism of young people, but teachers have been organised activists since the Teachers League of South Africa was founded in 1913. It is time to acknowledge the role of teachers in building our nation  South Africa observes Youth month in June to honour the Soweto Uprising of 1976, when thousands of black learners courageously […]

Since its inception in 2020, Teachers CAN has been committed to empowering teachers as change agents within their schools and communities. Over the years, the Teachers CAN Fellowship has played a pivotal role in creating a network of passionate, motivated educators dedicated to transforming education from the ground up. However, as we evolve, we recognise […]