Once a young girl who struggled to read and keep up in class, Wedaad Esau turned her challenges into purpose.
Today, her unwavering commitment to helping learners overcome similar hurdles has earned her the National Best Teacher Award at the Western Cape Provincial Teaching Awards, held at the Westin Cape Town on Friday 15 August.
Esau was one of 15 teachers in the province who were acknowledged for their hard work and outstanding teaching skills.
The teaching awards recognise the outstanding work of teachers and celebrate the teaching profession in the province.
Teachers were awarded for among others Excellence in Secondary School teaching, Excellence in Primary School Leadership, and Excellence in Special Needs Teaching.
The winners will now represent the Western Cape as nominees for the National Teaching Awards on Thursday 9 October.
Esau, a Grade one teacher at Bridgeville Primary School in Bridgetown, says her teaching career started 11 years ago.
“What I love about education is the fact that I can help learners. I was a struggling learner. I couldn’t read and I was classified as dyslexic. I really struggled and my mother got me the extra help I needed.”
“This always made me feel like I was not good enough, I don’t belong, and that I am not clever. That I will amount to nothing.”
This, she says, is what now pushes her to ensure every learner gets the support they need.
“Because of that I have made it my mission to help every learner read so that they don’t feel like they are not good enough. I want kids to feel loved, to feel their worth and not let their life be determined by something they cannot do.”
Esau says she always knew she wanted to enter the education sector.
“I studied quantity surveying. I realised it was not for me. A former teacher said that I was in the wrong field. She reminded me that I always wanted to help kids. Right there I decided to change my career and pursue teaching.
“I had this passion that I wanted to help every child. I didn’t want them to feel the way I felt.”
Esau says receiving the award as National Best Teacher is a humbling moment, one she shares with every learner she’s ever taught.
“Words can’t explain how grateful I am that I achieved this award. For me this award stands for every teacher out there who is working behind the scenes, every teacher who is ploughing back into their kids and making a difference.
“This award is for our kids to see that no matter where you started, no matter what difficulty you go through, you can overcome it if you put in hard work.”
When asked what she thinks makes a good teacher, she says it’s someone who understands that every child learns differently and is willing to meet them where they are.
“The drive to help your kids. To be caring for the kids. To not just see academics but to see a child holistically. What motivates me is not that I’m just helping kids I’m helping teachers as well.”
The teacher says she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others and has created an Instagram page called Passionate about Teaching in SA, where she regularly posts tips, ideas, and inspiration for fellow teachers and parents.
According to Esau, having a supportive teacher is crucial for a child’s development.
“Many of our kids in our communities have nobody else. But a teacher who motivates them and supports them is important. Having a teacher who is dedicated to growing herself and growing her kids is important.”
Parental support makes all the difference in a child’s education, she pointed out.
“Thank you to my parents at Bridgeville Primary. Building a relationship with the parents plays a vital role. Education is not just from my side. It is a learner, the parent and the teacher.
“I always tell parents, ‘Welcome to grade one’. We are grade one. We need parents’ support because that makes a huge difference in our classroom.”
Encouraging learners who face similar academic challenges, Esau said: “Never give up. Don’t let your circumstances define who you are. Rise above your circumstances. With hard work and motivation, you can achieve anything.
“Believe in yourself and never doubt who you are. Your background doesn’t define you.”
Addressing and congratulating the winners, David Maynier, provincial minister for education, said: “You are our greatest asset and without you our children would have no hope of a brighter future…Thank you everything you do every day for the children of the Western Cape.”
