Bheki has over forty years of experience in the South African Education Sector. He most recently worked as a District Coach at the at Ilembe and Pinetown District, in Kwa-Zulu Natal and at Ehlanzeni and Emalahleni Districts in the Mpumalanga Province. He has also served as a Curriculum Implementation facilitator in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Free State. During this time, he honed his skills as a coach, mentor and as a facilitator and has facilitated workshops at schools and strategic planning sessions at the different districts in KZN. During his twenty years working for the Basic Department of Education he worked in schools first as an educator and then as principal in both Primary and High schools around Kwa-Zulu Natal. Bheki was promoted to Circuit Manager during this time and he played an important role in facilitating the transformation of the education Department, when they were merging between 1995 and 2001. Bheki holds a Primary Teachers Diploma, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. In his spare time Bheki has conducted choirs for many years in schools, churches and adult choirs.

Neli holds a Junior Primary Teaching Diploma, Higher Education Diploma and a Bachelor of Education Honours. She also has 16 years of Foundation Phase teaching experience in South Africa and the UK. Neli left teaching in 2005 to work in the NGO space focussing on all aspects of language training in the Foundation Phase. She has worked in most districts in KZN, in deep rural areas and in semi urban schools. Neli is passionate about her work and teacher development and has first-hand experience that changing the mindset leads to sustainable outcomes.

Pam joins us with 36 years of teaching experience, which includes 13 years of HOD experience.  She completed her Senior Primary Education Diploma from Springfield College of Education in 1984 specialising in Geography and Needlework, and then obtained a Higher Diploma in Education specialising in Geography and Mathematics. Pam has strong management skills and ran the remedial and maths programme, as well as being the cluster coordinator for maths. Pam is passionate about delivering quality education to learners and enjoys netball.

Thembeka has an honours degree in education from University of South Africa, Safety Management course, and has also completed a Facilitator and Assessor Course and is currently doing a Moderator course. Thembeka has been teaching for 13 years and has worked for various NGO advocating for gender based violence as well as working with the department of health to reduce teenage pregnancy and HIV and Aids in adolescents.

Devandra joined Edufundi in April 2020 with 37 years teaching experience, mostly in the Intermediate Phase. Devan holds a Junior Secondary Education Diploma from Springfield College of Education as well as a B.A. Degree (UDW). He has a passion for Mathematics Education and has been involved in the development of Mathematics teaching in the Tongaat cluster for many years. As a former mentee of the Edufundi Programme for 2 years, he has first – hand experience of its benefits. Devan is a qualified Level 3 cricket coach and an ‘A’ Grade cricket umpire and also enjoys social Ballroom Dancing.

Kholeka is a teacher by profession with a Senior Primary Teachers Diploma, a Bachelor of Arts, Advanced education certificate in education management and Advanced education certificate in Science. She has been in education for 32 years, as a teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal and Principal. Kholeka is deeply involved in her church activities and is currently serving as a Cape Metropolitan President for the Sacredheart Sodality. She also facilitates leadership workshops for her youth church and Sodality. Kholeka champions team work and is eager to learn new things.

Sylvie holds an Education Diploma (Senior Primary) and HED in Mathematics from Springfield College in KwaZulu-Natal. She has 18 years teaching experience at Senior Primary level and has a passion for Mathematics and English. She was a facilitator and assessor for six years on Seta Learnerships for Adult Learners, as well as a facilitator in creative arts for Foundation Phase educators and a mentor for mathematics educators. She’s also been a part time tutor in English and Mathematics to Primary School Learners.

Tandiwe has 21 years of teaching experience and holds a Primary Teacher Diploma, an Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) and is currently studying towards a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She is passionate about education and using her experiences to mentor teachers. She is looking forward to the end product and the realisation of her mentoring inputs: working towards the Edufundi mission of unlocking the potential of her mentee’s learners. She is committed to maximising individual learner performance and inspiring all learners. In her spare time Tandiwe enjoys reading and playing netball.

Karin has a Junior Primary Teachers’ Diploma and HDE from Cape Town College of Education and 15 and a half years teaching experience as a Foundation Phase Teacher in the employment of the WCED. She has taught at schools in both the Metropole South and Central. She also spent two years teaching between two International schools, an IB World School and a combined English/Portuguese school, in Luanda Angola. She has teaching experience from Preparatory to Year 6 in various roles: class teacher, learning support, English as an Additional Language and as a one to one learning partner within the classroom. Karin enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as reading, traveling and being creatively engaged.

Loveness holds a Bachelors Degree in Education, Honours in Mathematics, Bachelor in Education, and Diploma in Education. Currently she is a first year Masters student in Mathematics Education at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She has 16 years of teaching experience, and has been teaching Mathematics, Natural Science and English to learners from Grade 4 to Grade 9. She is also an active member of the Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA)

Simphiwe hold a Senior Primary Teacher’s Diploma as well as Bachelor’s Degree in Technology: Education Management. He also completed a SMS Pre Entry Course from School of Governance which assists those wishing to enter into Director Positions in Government and a short course in Classroom Management. Simphiwe worked as Lecturer for Port Elizabeth TVET College lecturing Mathematics and English before taking on the role of Campus Manager. He was also the Deputy Principal Registrar for Buffalo City TVET College for 2 years. Simphiwe considers himself to be a hardworker who is very passionate about Education, Diligent and a strong motivator. Simphiwe always aspire for success and believe in the principle of Emotional Intelligence as his management principle.

Christine studied towards Primary Teacher’s Diploma (PTD) and furthered her studies by doing Bachelor of Education specialising in Intermediate Phase. She also studied Bachelor of Education Honours in Whole School Development. Christine has 33 years of teaching experience and served as the Deputy Principal for 29 years. She has a vast experience in managerial position in schools and believes that all learners have potential to learn. Christina has first-hand insight in to the mentoring programme as she was formerly mentored by Sylvie in the Western Cape.

Unathi studied towards Bachelor of Social Sciences (majoring in Organisational Psychology and Industrial and Economic Sociology) from Rhodes University. He furthered his studies by completing Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGCE Intermediate Phase) at Rhodes University and also studied towards Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Management and Leadership at Nelson Mandela University. He has 8 years teaching experience, teaching Grade 4 and Grade 5 Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Technology. His research interest is instructional leadership. Unathi believes that all learners have a potential to learn if conducive environment is created for them to learn. Unathi was previously mentored by Prof Bill when Edufundi was then Edupeg.

Nelisiwe was born in the small town called Tsolo Eastern Cape and studied her Teacher’s Diploma at Lumko College of Education (SPTD). She further studied at University of Stellenbosch doing Curriculum Studies and also studied towards Advance Certificate in Education (ACE) specialising in Technology at Rhodes University. She holds a Bachelor of Education Honours in Educational Management at Tshwane University of Technology and has 18 years of teaching experience teaching all learning arears in the Foundation Phase. Nelisiwe is also a qualified Facilitator and Assessor.

Ntombizonke has 25 years of teaching experience in the Primary school. She holds a Primary Teachers Diploma from Good Hope College in Cape Town , Advanced Certificate in Education and Bachelor of Education specializing in Intermediate Phase from Rhodes University. Ntombizonke has taught in various schools including 7 years experience of teaching in Port Alfred High school which is a multiracial school.She has also have 18 years experience of teaching in the previously disadvantaged schools. She is passionate about teaching and learning in so much that during 2012 to 2014 period she was involved as a Facilitator in the roll out and the implementation of the Curriculum And Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in Grahams town District.During her facilitation she was involved in Languages and she believes that language is a tool for thought and communication.

Itayi has been in the education sector for the past 22 years. He is a former High School teacher who taught mainly English Home Language, Technology, Geography and Computers, both at Senior Phase as well as at FET level. Since the year 2012, he has worked for various organisations and government institutions, which include Class Act Educational Services, VastraTech, Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (a Teacher Development training arm of the Gauteng Department of Education), Pearson as well as Axium Education, an Eastern Cape based education NPO. His work in these organisations involved coaching, mentoring and facilitation, in matters to do with school management, curriculum, methodology and ICT in Education. Itayi holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, a Diploma in Secondary Education, a Teaching With Technology Certificate (Wits University) as well as an ICT in Education Certificate from UNISA. He is also an alumni of the Instructional Leadership Institute (ILI), USA.

Zuko holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Communication Studies and History as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, majoring in History. She also has electives in Women and Gender Studies and Library and Information Science. With eight years teaching experience and meticulous planning and administrative skills, she has experience as a Learning Support Educator working with a multidisciplinary team, known as Children with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities (CSPID). Zuko has held the role of Acting Department Head giving her experience working with the School Management Team. In 2018, Zuko was nominated by The Western Cape Education Department to be one of their facilitators to present and empower educators. These programs were to assist educators with strategies to combat different barriers to learning in their respective classes. Zuko puts her whole heart into her work and always looks for the best possible outcome

Sindi is a qualified female education specialist and holds a Primary Teachers Diploma, Higher Education Diploma (Maths and Science – Primary School) and Cum Laude Bachelor of Education (Maths and Science – Senior Phase) She started teaching in 1988 and left in 1997 to join NGO for Maths. Sindi has been in the Education and Training industry for 33 years of which 23 years has been in the Teacher Development. She has a very strong passion for Mathematics and was part of the Free State Maths for All Campaign with the Provincial Team of the Department of Education. She has also led a Team of Trainers for Matric Maths Intervention in Free State. Sindi has always been passionate about seeing the change in our classrooms, school management, as well as curriculum coverage and management.

Linda has 25 years of experience in the Foundation Phase. She attained her Diploma in Primary Teaching in 1990 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication Studies in 2003 in Zimbabwe. She relocated to South Africa in 2008 and taught for 2 years at Mahlasedi Primary School in the Foundation Phase. She then joined Read Educational Trust as a coach for teachers in Literacy and Numeracy in the Gauteng Primary Literacy and Mathematics Strategy (GPLMS) programme which lasted for 3 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, majoring in Teaching English as a Second Language with Concordia University in America through distance learning.

Brighton is currently studying towards Master of Arts in Leadership in Education, an online program from Liverpool John Moores University (UK). He holds a Master Degree in Education (Innovation Teaching and Learning) from South Wales University (UK). CIS Programme 1 and 2 from UNISA, a Diploma in Education from the University of Zimbabwe, a certificate in Mentor School Management and Manage Mentoring Programmes in Schools from ETDP SETA Johannesburg South Africa. Brighton has taught extensively in both public and private schools for over eight years. He taught English, Mathematics and Natural Sciences in the Intermediate Phase. He coached and mentored many teachers in public primary schools in Gauteng province for over eight years. Brighton was also part of the Gauteng Primary Literacy Mathematics Strategy (GPLMS). He worked in the Maths Centre and the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance as a coach in the GPLMS strategy. A culture of excellence, research and innovation drives Brighton’s passion and love for education. He delights in seeing every child excelling in their educational careers. He is also passionate about teaching and has a vision and commitment to enhancing English and Mathematics education and learning in schools. He is a committed Christian who believes that God is the source of everyone’s inspiration. Brighton is happily married and blessed with two beautiful daughters. He desires to enrol for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) one day.