Nearly two decades of inspiring young minds

For Justine Kangandji, teaching has always been a calling.

With 19 years of experience in education and currently serving as an English second language teacher at Wennie du Plessis Secondary School in the Omaheke region, Kangandji continues to shape and inspire the lives of countless learners.

Kangandji began her teaching career in 2007 and joined Wennie du Plessis in 2012. Her passion for teaching started in childhood.

“Teaching was my childhood dream. I was the teacher during doll games, at playground lessons, and even in class whenever the teacher needed someone to explain to fellow learners,” she said.

Although she graduated as a social sciences teacher specialising in history and geography, her career evolved over time. She taught life skills before transitioning into senior secondary English in 2015 when the school faced a shortage of English teachers.

“I could not escape the call of duty,” Kangandji said.

Her dedication has earned her recognition at both school and regional levels, including a regional award for English NSSCO results in 2023. One of her proudest achievements was facilitating national Grade 12 English training after receiving specialised Cambridge training through the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED).

“Being selected to roll out national training was a privilege and a rewarding experience,” she said.

True impact

Kangandji has also witnessed major changes in education, particularly the growing use of technology and artificial intelligence in classrooms. While she acknowledges its benefits, she believes over-dependence on technology can limit creativity and critical thinking among learners.

“Homework is now done by artificial intelligence (AI), and learners’ creativity is suppressed by the need to quickly search and get done with it,” she stressed.

Outside the classroom, Kangandji coaches the school debate club and the regional debate team and serves as a national adjudicator. Under her leadership, the school debate club secured its third trophy this year.

She believes patience, endurance and compassion are essential qualities in teaching.

“Long service is not measured by the number of years spent in an organisation, but by the impact made along the way,” Kangandji said.

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue contributing to education through leadership, mentorship and inspiring future generations.