Creative South African adjudged 2019 best teacher in the world

South African maths and science teacher Khangelani Sibiya has been named the 2019 Global Teacher.

Sibiya who hails from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal earned the coveted teacher of the year award in Dubai after beating about 80 teachers across the globe.

Congratulating Sibiya in a statement Monday, the KZN Department of Education described him as “changing the face of Mathematics and Science from subjects most hated, avoided and failed, into subjects that are loved, passed and mastered by learners.”

“He is the pride of our province and the epitome of many exceptional men and women in the noble teaching profession,” the KZN Department of Education said.

Sibiya, 33, teaches at Siphumelele Secondary School in King Cetshwayo District and offers extra classes on weekends.

The weekend lessons, he said, are mostly free to learners. However, contributions are welcome from those who can afford and well-wishers from the community.

Sibiya has reportedly taught over 25, 000 pupils in South Africa in a bid to let them love Maths and Science.

He has been lauded for his creative strategy of using traditional music and indigenous languages to teach maths and science. A strategy, which according to him, has helped many students overcome the fear of these two subjects.