This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Elsabé Wessels who is the Deputy Director of the School of Psycho-Social Education, in the Faculty of Education at the Mafikeng Campus of North-West University. Dr. Elsabé Wessels is an educator, academic, and advocate for holistic early childhood education.

The conversation opens with a deep dive into the School of Psycho-Social Education, an institution uniquely dedicated to nurturing the bio-psycho-social and spiritual well-being of learners, educators, and the broader education ecosystem. Dr. Wessels emphasizes the critical importance of early childhood development, viewing it as the bedrock of human potential, encompassing cognitive, physical, emotional, and social dimensions. She discusses the benefits of leveraging technology to empower teachers and students.

Drawing on over 27 years of experience, she discusses how teaching is a calling that requires teachers to be “school mothers” – emotionally available, nurturing, patient, and compassionate. She recounts powerful anecdotes illustrating the emotional labour teachers perform and how teacher well-being directly impacts the quality of education children receive.

Dr. Wessels’ academic interests in early literacy and learner support in foundation phase support, and her use of positive psychology to enhance teacher wellness. She reflects on the pressures facing educators, such as overcrowded classrooms and emotional burnout, and outlines the urgent need for systemic and community-based interventions to support them sustainably.

Dr. Wessels has a passion for community-based educational research (COMBER), where she collaborates with local communities to co-create solutions. She shares moving examples of her work with under-resourced schools, illustrating how empowerment, empathy, and partnership can yield sustainable transformation. What these schools lack in physical or economic assets they make up for is soft skills like resilience and collaboration.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Wessels speaks candidly about her personal life – growing up in modest circumstances, the influence of her family, the importance of lifelong learning, and the empowerment that comes with education and financial independence. Your circumstances might change in life and whilst you could lose tangible assets your education can never be taken away from you. She underscores the value of choosing the right life partner, rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and emotional support.

Dr. Wessels leaves listeners with a resonant message: women in Africa are born with an innate resilience, shaped by adversity and empowered by choice. Her story is a tribute to the power of education, empathy, and leadership in nurturing the next generation of learners and changemakers.

Tune in for more…