Few people are aware of the serious shortage of teachers and how this will escalate in future. About 15 000 new teachers qualify in South Africa every year, but we need 22 000 to replace retiring teachers accommodate the growing number of school-going children. A staggering 74% of our current teacher workforce is over 40 years of age, and only 8% of them are between 20 to 29 years*.

Fundraising programme MySchool My Village Myplanet is launching a new fund called Dream2Teach, aimed at investing in teacher education. Through Dream2Teach, MySchool will help aspiring learners achieve their dreams of becoming a teacher with personalised support and scholarships from start to end.

Dream2Teach Scholarship Fund will award scholarships to selected matriculants who have a clear purpose to become teachers, but lack the financial means to gain a tertiary qualification.

“MySchool has long recognised the important role that passionate teachers play in society. Their positive influence and impact goes far beyond the classroom into their communities,” says Helene Brand, marketing and CSI manager of MySchool. “We want to give our beneficiaries the chance to be a great teacher who changes lives for the better.”

*According to a 2014 Stellenbosch University study by Hendrik van Broekhuiszen