Fanisile Khuzwayo
Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal
Age:
35
Project Name/Description:
Teacher – Mathanda Primary School
Fanisile Khuzwayo is a volunteer teacher at a rural school called Mathanda in KwaZulu-Natal. Khuzwayo has been working as a volunteer teacher for seven years. Starting with no qualification, Khuzwayo quickly realised that for her to get permanent employment, she had to further her studies. In 2023, she obtained her foundation phase teaching qualification. Khuzwayo’s school, Mathanda Primary School, lacks basic teaching materials and adequate facilities. Khuzwayo, through her annual fundraising efforts, seeks to secure sponsors for the school, emphasising the urgent need for educational resources and improved infrastructure, such as a proper classroom for her grade R class, as well as better bathroom facilities for the pupils. “I don't have a class. I'm using a school hall for teaching and learning. There is not enough material for a grade R class, and it is not in good condition for the young learners since the classroom needs to have different things inside of it and it has to be colourful,” she explains. Khuzwayo says the quality of education remains a challenge despite the three decades of democracy in South Africa. “This is due to the lack of resources, which makes it impossible and difficult to work and deliver quality education to children, especially in schools that are in rural areas,” she expresses.
