Brackenfell teacher Dr Mariëtte Wheeler was named on Wednesday as one of the top-10 finalists for a million-dollar teaching prize.
Earlier this month, the Protea Heights Academy life sciences teacher was chosen from 7000 nominations from 130 countries as one of 50 candidates for the prestigious Global Teacher Prize.
The award will be presented by the Varkey Foundation and its partners, Dubai Cares and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), on Wednesday November 8, in Paris, France at the 42nd session of Unesco’s conference.
Dr Wheeler said: “I hope that my selection will also inspire my fellow teachers in our country to keep up their work. Teachers really make a difference every day – igniting curiosity, as role models, caring for our learners and celebrating the learners’ special moments with them.”
She won the national Department of Basic Education’s Best Teacher Award In 2021.
Education MEC David Maynier and Protea Heights Academy congratulated Dr Wheeler on her achievement.
“We are delighted that a Western Cape teacher has made the top 10. It is a testament to the quality of teaching taking place in our province,” said Mr Maynier.
