485,000 educators celebrated

South Africa marks World Teachers' Day by honouring more than 485,000 educators, recognising that no education system can be stronger than the people teaching in its classrooms.

National Teacher of the Year named

Ms Mpho Mosala of Letlotlo Primary School won the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award for her extraordinary commitment to early literacy, comprehension and supporting vulnerable learners.

Teachers transform lives

Teachers can help transform a child's circumstances, turning the child of a domestic worker into a doctor, engineer, scientist, entrepreneur or president through their encouragement and belief.

Early childhood expansion accelerates

More than 13,300 ECD centres were registered last year against a target of 10,000. ECD registration has grown by 200 percent since 2021, with 1.2 million children now accessing registered programmes.

Massive investment in early learning

South Africa is investing ten billion rand in ECD subsidies and a further 496 million rand to create 115,000 ECD spaces in three of the country's most rural provinces.

Teacher training in literacy and numeracy

The government is training 10,000 foundation phase teachers in literacy and numeracy while strengthening support for reading and mother tongue-based bilingual education across schools.

Cutting bureaucracy for teachers

The education minister committed to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy by reducing reporting tools in schools so teachers spend less time on paperwork and more time teaching and supporting learners.

“Teachers are not data capturers; they cannot and should not spend a large portion of their time on paperwork.”

Child protection vetting urgent

The minister called on every teacher to urgently subject themselves to vetting against the National Child Protection Register and the National Register of Sex Offenders, citing too few teachers have been vetted.

“There can be no compromise on teacher professionalism, ethical conduct and the safety of learners.”