Local teacher ranked amongst the world’s best

19 January 2026

Charnelle Arendse, a multi-award-winning teacher at Belmor Primary in Hanover Park, has earned yet another accolade — being named as one of the top 50 finalists for the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.

Selected from more than 5 000 applications worldwide, Arendse was celebrated for her innovative classroom practices and high impact community programmes.

For her, this recognition is both personal and profoundly communal. “I am a living, breathing testimony that you can thrive in Hanover Park despite the tsunami of challenges! This award serves a tangible testament of being able to overcome adversity for every learner in my community.”

The global recognition also validates Belmor Primary School’s ongoing commitment to innovation, resilience and inclusive teaching.

Nationally, this recognition highlights the excellence emerging from under-resourced communities. By sharing Belmor’s successful approaches like community engagement, literacy routines and social-emotional learning, Arendse hopes to inspire and support other schools facing similar challenges. Her participation in global teacher networks will also bring new pedagogical practices, shared resources and cross-cultural projects to South African classrooms.

Further affirming her role as an educational leader, she was recently invited by the Western Cape Education Department’s Directorate: Curriculum (General Education and Training) to deliver a presentation highlighting the achievements that earned her a place among the Top 50 teachers in the world.

Read Arendse’s award citation at the following link: https://globalteacherprize.org/news/global-teacher-prize-finalists/2026-finalists-global-teacher-prize/2144/2144-Charnelle-Nicole-Arende

Arendse and Dr Mariëtte Wheeler, 2023 Global Teacher Prize top ten finalist, a National Best Teacher and a curriculum planner for agricultural and marine sciences in the WCED, will attend the announcement of the 2026 Global Teacher Prize winner on 2 February 2026 in Dubai.