Lehlohonolo Israel Mofokeng
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Age:
34
Project Name/Description:
Accounting Teacher – St Bernard High School
Lehlohonolo Mofokeng’s philosophy of turning township schools into world-class centres of learning and teaching finds expression in his daily work at St Barnard School, where he goes beyond the call of duty to shape tomorrow’s leaders. In addition to organising educational tours to universities and historical sites, Mofokeng also partners with institutions like Standard Bank to teach financial literacy and other life skills. A Mandela Rhodes scholar, Mofokeng holds a Bachelor of Education (Hons) degree from the University of the Free State and a master's from Wits. He's an author, thinker and researcher with citations in various journals and by-lines on publications such as the Daily Maverick. Inspired by Paulo Frere’s writings, the 2024 Unsung Hero frames his teaching philosophy as one that does away with classroom power dynamics and sees pupils as equal participants in the learning process. “Real education should liberate the minds of learners in a way that will enable them to critique what is considered reality so that they can transform the world around them," he explains. Despite the challenges facing the education system, which include poor teaching and learning conditions, understaffing and school violence, Mofokeng asserts that the current democratic government has done well in fulfilling young people’s constitutional right to education. "Henceforth," he elaborates, "the focus should be on establishing skill-specific schools to promote vocational skills, and stop fixating on matric and start improving literacy levels in the lower grades."
