Lekhooa Seleke, 35, is a grade 11 and grade 12 business studies and tourism educator at Grassland Secondary School. He is a member of the school safety steering committee for Motheo district in the Free State and is the alumni president of the Central University of Technology, Free State, which has a campaign called #ReleaseCetificatesCampaign aimed at assisting graduates whose certificates are withheld by the university because they are unable to pay off their debts.
Lekhooa is a recipient of the National Teaching Awards in the category of Kader Asmal Excellence Awards. In his personal capacity, he runs a Food on Wheels project weekly, wherein he prepares food for men awaiting employment on street curbs. He has also established a drug reduction programme, where a group of like-minded people hold weekly developmental sessions for learners who exhibit traits of substance abuse.
Lekhooa is inspired by the prospects of shaping learners’ minds in such a way that they understand that their material conditions do not define their future potential. He envisions a future where the education department has mechanisms to track down learners who drop out of school because of substance abuse.
I am a recipient of the National Teaching Awards in the category of Kader Asmal Excellence Awards. The award came as a result of the work I am doing is beyond the call of duty. I also run a “Food on Wheels” project weekly, wherein I prepare food for gentlemen by the side of the road awaiting potential employers for the day.
I was influenced by the achievements of my father. I look to him because of how he raised us and what he has managed to achieve with the little that he has. His generosity and service to the community is unmatched.