Bridgeville Primary’s Wedaad Esau wins national best teacher award

A Bridgeville Primary School teacher has been named a winner in the prestigious National Best Teacher Award for her contribution to literacy and value-driven education in the Western Cape.

The Grade 1 teacher, Wedaad Esau, who also serves as the Grade 1 departmental head at the Bridgetown school, was one of 15 provincial winners selected for the 2025 National Teaching Awards in the Western Cape. She will now represent the province at the national finals, scheduled for Thursday, October 9.

Her lessons follow the Science of Reading, a globally recognised, research-backed approach to teaching literacy.

Ms Esau said her passion for literacy stems from her own experiences as a struggling reader. Diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of nine and forced to repeat Grade 3, she said she received minimal support from her teachers.

“I felt inadequate and thought I would amount to nothing. Coming from Mitchell's Plain and feeling like I didn’t belong, I didn’t want my pupils to feel the same,” she said.

Growing up in a financially unstable yet academically focused family, her father sold ice cream at Newlands Field for 55 years.

“The values he taught me lasted a lifetime,” Ms Esau said.

Her personal experiences inspired her to create an inclusive classroom where every pupil feels accepted and supported, particularly in reading, she said.

Ms Esau’s sister, Farzaana Israel, said: “Wedaad overcame severe reading struggles and repeated Grade 3 to become a passionate literacy advocate. She developed her own reading programme, presents at conferences, shares educational content online, and continues to give selflessly to her pupils and community."

Her husband, Abdul Ghaalik Esau from Portland, said: “I am beyond proud of where Wedaad has come from academically, where she is now, and where she is going. She always defies the odds and has my full support. She truly loves what she does—helping children enjoy learning.”

During her 11-year teaching career, Ms Esau has done presentations with foundation phase pupils across the Western Cape, mentored BEd students, and contributed to teacher development workshops.

She also contributes at the Pan African Literacy for All Summit in Cape Town, the continent’s first summit of its kind, which brings together delegates from 14 African countries to explore how synthetic phonics can address the reading crisis in English and Afrikaans.

“The award is not just about me,” Ms Esau said. “It’s about every teacher who stays late to mark, mentor, and support pupils. When we make a difference in a child’s life, that is the most important reward.”

Ms Esau began her teaching career at Jamaica Way Primary School in Portland before joining Bridgeville Primary this year. She said she is committed to supporting novice teachers and building a community of teachers who share knowledge and encouragement.

As a mother of three boys and with the support of her husband, family, and colleagues, she said she balances her personal and professional commitments while mentoring others.

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Kerry Mauchline said Ms Esau’s achievement reflects excellence, dedication, and innovation in teaching. “We are proud of the calibre of teaching in our province and confident the national judging panel will recognize the immense talent here,” she said.