Toyota Teach

Equipping Teachers.
Creating Change.

The Toyota Teach Primary School Project provides capacity building in Primary Schools to enhance Department of Education curriculum delivery within a functioning and conducive school environment to produce learners who are self-reliant and competent in the world of work.

Our Values

Collaboration
Communication
Respect
Accountability

Our Vision

To help develop the capacity of primary school teachers within a functioning and conducive school environment in order to produce learners who are self-reliant and competent in the world of work.

Our Mission

To achieve our vision, Toyota Teach strives to provide quality teacher mentorship and coaching and encourage collaboration as an effective way to improve teaching and learning. 

About Us

Dr Albert Wessels, the Founder of Toyota South Africa, saw the need to uplift the quality of education in the local disadvantaged communities around the Toyota factory in KwaZulu-Natal. After the birth of  the Toyota South Africa Foundation in 1989, the well-known Professor J P De Lange was commissioned to investigate what focus the Foundation should take in the Umlazi and Umbumbulu areas. He advocated that the Toyota South Africa Foundation should focus on supporting primary school education in Science, Mathematics, Languages, and cognitive development. Subsequently, the Toyota Teach Primary School Project (TTPSP) was born.

Tholakele Mazibuko

IsiZulu Foundation Phase Mentor

JPTD (Indumiso College): HED Natal College: ABET Unisa: BED Honours University of Natal: Certificate in Maths Education UJ: Certificate in LO UJ

Thola has been in education department from 1991, teaching grade1 all Foundation phase subjects up to 2008. She was promoted to Subject Education Specialist (F/Phase) at Umkhanyakude District in 2008. She also worked at Pinetown District from 2016-2018.

She joined Toyota Teach Primary School Project in February 2024. Her work is to assist teachers on reading as it the main focus for DoE.

Lindeni Mjoli

Grade R Mentor

JPTD from Ntuzuma College of Education, HDEM+4 from UKZN
PMB, Inclusive Education from Embury College, ECD from Smart Start JHB, Assessor from ETDP SETA, Certificate in Advance from DUT. HIV/AIDS curriculum Ikhwezi College of Education
Facilitation in Life Skills education from Ikhwezi College of Education, currently studying MBA from Mancosa
Lindeni started career at Primary for 18 years, she left the department and joined NGO ‘s as a co-ordinator at MIET dealing with schools.
She left Miet to work for Zenex and New Leaders Foundation as a coach working at ILembe District dealing with eight schools. 2018 February left Zenex Foundation to join Elangeni Tvet College where she was a co-ordinator for NATED Studies for six years.
Lindeni joined Toyota Teaching Primary School Project from November 2023

Lihle Finca

Language Mentor

Language Mentor
Senior Teacher’s Diploma, (University of Transkei), Diploma in Specialised Education (UKZN), ABET Certificate (UNISA), Higher Diploma in Education (UNISA), Hons. B. Ed (UNISA), Project Management, (College SA).
Short Courses: Assessor, Moderator (Assessment College of SA), Mentoring, Skills Development Facilitator, Facilitator (Pedro SA).
Lihle has 17 years of teaching experience in both Primary and Secondary Schools. During her teaching career, she established a school library at Mpande High School in the Umgungundlovu district and worked as a teacher librarian.
She left the formal education sector and moved to Training and Resources in Early Education (TREE) as an Area Coordinator and later a Project Coordinator.
She has also worked with the National Development Agency as a Capacity Building Officer, with a special focus on funded Non-Profit Organisations, monitoring and training project members in Financial Management, Resource Mobilization, Project Management, Conflict Management and Classroom Practice.
She was involved in assessing and supervising B.Ed. and PGCE student teachers from UNISA and UKZN during their workplace experience.
Lihle joined Toyota Teach Primary School Project in November 2023 as a Language Mentor.

Baqedukwazi Mthembu

Mathematics Mentor

PTC (Ntuzuma College); SEC and SED (Vista U); ACE (UKZN); Bed (NMU); B.Ed.Hons. (UKZN). Short courses: 1 Year Certificate (Arts) Eshowe College.

Agrineta has been in education for 33 years and joined Toyota Teach Primary School Project (TTPSP) in 2015. She was a classroom teacher but with the introduction of OBE, she specialised in teaching Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology from Grade 7 to Grade 9. She joined TTPSP as a Mathematics mentor, working with teachers from Grade 1 to Grade 7. However, at present, she is working with Foundation Phase teachers only. In the Project, she also assists her colleagues in using Microsoft Excell using graphs to present information and analysing data (cleaning data, calculating mean, median standard deviation). Agrineta assists teachers with curriculum coverage and sharing different teaching strategies by conducting workshops on what should be completed each term. She also assists teachers with assessment, recording assessments and materials development. Although Agrineta has achieved much during her long career, she considers the highlight as being selected as the student of the year by her colleagues while she was doing ACE at Toyota teach in 2004.

Zamandaba Makhanya

FP Mathematics Mentor

JPTD (Mpumalanga College): ABET Unisa:ABET FacilitatorTriple Holdings,
Mathematics Facilitator (VVOB and Casme sponsored by Lego Blend Foundation
Zama has been in education with the introduction of OBE for 18 years.and specialising in Mathematics.
She has been specialising in mathematics and awarded with certificate of appreciation for high standard of excellence in 2008.She involve herself with Toyota and Casme workshops programmes as from 2007.Her learners participate in Maths Olympiad organised by Toyota and Casme and taking 2nd and 3rd place.

She joined Toyota Teach Primary School Project in November 2023.Her work is to assist teachers with computation (Mathematics) and conducting of workshops.

Nathi Mbonambi

Liaising Officer

MANCOSA College – BCom in Project Management & Advanced in Business Management

Nathi Started working at Toyota S.A on the 22 January 2005

He has been with Toyota Teach for 5 years as a Liaising Officer.
He is also responsible for the office administrative duties, namely:
- Commute Project employees.
- Co-ordinate site visits.
-Collect media content (photographer)

Dumisani Msomi

Natural Science and Technology Mentor

STD (Eshowe College); ABET Certificate (UNISA); ACE (UKZN); ICDL (MUT)

During his 33 years of experience in education, Dumisani has had a long association with the Toyota Teach Primary School Project (TTPSP), first as an ACE student and now as a Science and Technology mentor after joining the project in 2016.

His work with the project involves mentoring, coaching and supporting Natural Science and Technology (NST) teachers. In the course of this work, he has assisted in the development of learning materials, planned and organised workshops for teachers, advised teachers on assessment strategies and helped with the organisation of NST events such as NST quizzes, science expos and arbour days. He has also assisted departmental heads with developing NST curriculum monitoring tools.

Dumisani’s interest and expertise in his subject led to him taking on several leadership roles. He was the IP and SP Umlazi district OBE facilitator for Technology, and he presented at a number of national annual Technology conferences. In addition, he was staff development chairperson for IQMS at school level and cluster co-coordinator for Natural Science and Technology at Umlazi District.

PHILISIWE NDLOVU

Grade R Mentor

Senior teacher’s diploma from University of Transkei; ABET certificate from UNISA; Assessor from Edutel and Moderator certificate from Assessment College; Early Learning outcome measure from Innovation edge Institution; Play-based learning certificate from birth to grade 3 supporting early childhood education from PlaySA; Early Childhood Education Sector Planning certificate from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; E-Learning design certificate from eLearning Africa; Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution Certificate from KZN College; Curriculum design certificate; Postgraduate diploma in Leadership and Management from UKZN.

Philisiwe joined the Toyota Teach Primary School Project in 2022. Previously she worked for the Department of Education in many roles ranging from a Teacher to a Senior Management position. She was also a Training Manager for Training Resources in Early Childhood Education (TREE), an Education Advisor for VVOB and a Provincial Co-Ordinator for the Takalani Sesame workshop in Eastern Cape.

Additionally, she spearheaded Play-based learning in Denmark in 2017, sponsored by LEGO Foundation. She also participated in the development of a gender-responsive pedagogy resource guide, translating and moderating a first-of-its-kind isiZulu version of the guide, which is now available online to be used by all early childhood development practitioners and Grade R teachers.

THEMBISILE (THEMBI) NDLOVU

Foundation Phase HOD mentor

PTD (Appelsbosch College.); HDE (NCE); B.Ed. (UKZN); MEd (UKZN)

Thembi has over 24 years of teaching experience. During this time, she has held a number of leadership positions, including HOD and School Principal. She has also worked as a tutor for students who enrolled in the NPDE at UKZN and has tutored B.Ed. and PGCE students during their Teaching Practice module for UNISA.

She joined the Toyota Teach Primary School Project in April 2016 and works on assisting FP HODs and SMTs on curriculum supervision. She also mentors Grade R teachers on curriculum delivery.

NHLANHLA GUMEDE

IP & SP Mathematics Mentor

SPTD (Indumiso College of Education); PM Diploma (Varsity College); ACE in Technology Education (UKZN); B.Ed. Hons in Leadership and Management (UNISA); MBA (MANCOSA).

Nhlanhla joined the Toyota Teach Primary school Project in 2022. He has more than 20 years of teaching experience in Pietermaritzburg and Durban combined, including teaching, assessing, and moderating Maths at both high and primary school levels.

During his earlier teaching years, he worked as a Post Level 1 (PL1) educator, then later was promoted to a HOD and subsequently to the Acting Principal. Before being promoted, he was involved with the facilitation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE), Developmental Appraisal System (DAS), and Skills Development workshops in Richmond School whilst working in the PMB Region and was later involved with the establishment of inter-school cluster and PLCs in some schools within the Phumelele circuit when he was working in the DBN Region.

After graduating with his Master’s Degree, he joined EThekwini TVET College as a lecturer. His dissertation for his MBA was about ‘The readiness of TVET Colleges to implement a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)-oriented curriculum’.

Before joining Toyota Teach, he was actively involved with CASME’s Maths Olympiads as an educator from one of the consistent winning schools and was recognised by Mrs Thami Mahlobo (CASME Project Manager) for his achievements at the Umlazi District level.

NTOMBENHLE (NTOMBI) MBATHA

Language Mentor

SPTD (Mpumalanga College); TPP (Esikhawini College); ABET (British Council/Operation Upgrade); PMD (Varsity College); ITD (PC Training); DELT (ELET); IEC (EMBURY); Public Speaking Certificate (THETA); Experiencing the Child with Learning Difficulties (The Workshop Reading Centre)

After teaching in a primary school for 12 years, Ntombenhle moved on to become a READ Educational Trust trainer, a position she held for five years. For the next five years, she moved on to take on the role as Senior Trainer in Inclusive Education for MIET. Wanting to spread her wings, she moved to Auckland, New Zealand where she was a teacher at Riverina Primary and then Papakura High School. She also performed voluntary work in a few New Zealand schools. When she returned to South Africa, she worked for ELET as a coach in a position sponsored by the Zenex Foundation. She began working for The Toyota Teach Primary School Project in April 2017.

During her long career in education, Ntombenhle has had many high points. However, she is particularly proud of being chosen as a leader teacher for READ in 1996, and a National Storyteller in 1997.

ZOLEKA NGUBANE

School Mentor and Finance administrator

ND Business Management (DUT); HC Project Management (Mancosa).

Zoleka joined the Toyota Teach Project in February 2012. Her focus area is the mentoring and coaching of School Governing Body members and Administration Clerks in basic financial management.

She finds great value in imparting knowledge to school governing bodies and witnessing how they transform to perform their roles more effectively.

As a Project finance administrator, she is involved in budgeting for the Project and ensuring optimum financial utilisation.

NONHLANHLA MHLONGO

IP & SP Mathematics mentor

PTC (Umbumbulu College) SPTD (Umlazi College); BA (UNISA); Short courses: Facilitator of Learning (ACD); Dip in School Leadership and Management (UKZN)

Nonhlanhla has been involved in education for over 40 years. She worked as a classroom teacher before being promoted to HOD and later to Deputy Principal. She also fulfilled many different leadership roles in the Umlazi district. She coached teachers on the IQMS, was the lead educator facilitating winter workshops for Mathematics teachers, was the Umlazi District Mathematics co-ordinator, facilitated programmes for Ikhwezi, and was Centre Manager at Sompukwane.

At the Toyota Teach Primary School Project (TTPSP) she is the IP and SP Mathematics mentor and works with teachers at project schools. She conducts workshops to improve the teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and assist them with teaching strategies and assessment techniques.

During her long career, Nonhlanhla has had many significant achievements. However, she highlights all the work she has done with upskilling teachers in Mathematics; 2 of her learners taking 1st and 2nd place in the Maths Olympiad organised by Toyota and CASME, as well as meeting Alan Clarke, author of The Handbook of School Management and The Handbook of School Governance, as particular high points.

BONGI MAKHAYE

Language and Library Mentor

PTD (Senior) (Indumiso College); B.Ed. (UKZN); Diploma School Librarianship (UKZN); Diploma in Project Management (Damelin); Certificate in Labour Law (UKZN)

Bongi joined The Toyota Teach Primary School Project in 2010. Previously she taught at Caluza Primary School and as a Teacher Librarian at Mpolweni High School, where she started the library. She has undertaken Teaching Practice supervision for both pre-service and postgraduate students at UKZN and UNISA.

Over her time with the project, Bongi has undertaken several different tasks. Initially, she was the Foundation Phase Mentor, and then moved on to work on developing and improving libraries at the project schools while doubling as a school mentor. She is presently working as a Language mentor.

During her time in education, Bongi not only started the library at Mpolweni High School but also changed classrooms into libraries in five schools that were funded by Toyota Teach. One of these schools won the Regional Library Competition.

AGRINETA (BAQE) MTABELA

Mathematics Mentor

PTC (Ntuzuma College); SEC and SED (Vista U); ACE (UKZN); Bed (NMU); B.Ed. Hons (UKZN). Short courses: 1 Year Certificate (Arts and Culture) (Eshowe College).

Agrineta has been in education for over 30 years and with the Toyota Teach Primary School Project (TTPSP) for five years. She was a classroom teacher but with the introduction of OBE, she specialised in teaching Mathematics and Technology from Grade 7 to Grade 9.

She joined TTPSP as a Mathematics mentor, working with teachers from Grades 1 to Grade 7. However, at present, she is working with Foundation Phase teachers only. Agrineta assists teachers with curriculum coverage by conducting workshops on what should be completed each term. She also assists with assessment and materials development.

Although Agrineta has achieved much during her long career, she considers the highlight as being selected as the student of the year by her colleagues while she was doing ACE at Toyota Teach in 2004.

NKIE  NGONGOMA

Project Manager

SPTD (Eshowe College); BA (UNISA); B.Ed. Hons (NU); MSocSc (UKZN); Project Management (SU); Evaluation and Monitoring (SAMEA)

Nkie started her career as a schoolteacher for 16 years. In addition, she has tutored B.Ed. students at UKZN. She joined the Toyota Teach Primary School Project in 2007 as a Natural Science Consultant. In this role, she has empowered Natural Science and Technology teachers, helping to improve their teaching strategies and their understanding of current trends in education to make their teaching more effective. As the Deputy Project Manager, Nkie is tasked to assist the project manager. She is thus responsible for the management and administration of the project.

Nkie has achieved extensively in her long career and done much to promote her subject. She introduced the Toyota Teach schools to the Eskom Expo, where some of the learners from the project schools were selected to participate at National level. She has served in the Eskom Expo as a judge of learners’ projects and as a committee member. She has also organised various Toyota Teach events, and she is the liaising officer between TTPSP and the Department of Education (DoE) in the Pinetown District. She led a team of principals from the project’s current schools on a tour to Cape Town schools in February 2020. She also presented a paper at the South African Assessment and Evaluation Conference in 2018.

In 2005/06, Nkie was involved in a Mathematics Literacy pilot programme put in place by the KZN DoE in Zululand and Umzinyathi Regions as a project coordinator. This was a national programme put in place to capacitate teachers in Mathematics Literacy. She was also staff development chairperson for IQMS at school level.