A primary school teacher from Hanover Park has been ranked among the best educators in the world. 

Charnelle Arendse, a multi-award-winning teacher at Belmor Primary School, has been named one of the Top 50 finalists for the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize. 

She was among teachers from around the world who were honoured at an event in Dubai on Monday, alongside 49 other finalists. 

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said the accolade follows a selection process of more than 5,000 applications worldwide.  

“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,” Arendse said in a statement by the WCED.  

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) described Arendse as “a national symbol of resilience, innovation and educational excellence”, after 15 years of teaching at Belmor Primary.  

“Her journey stands as a testament to a revolutionary professional who is equal to the task of creating and shaping a learning nation,” read the SADTU statement.  

The Global Teacher Prize is an internationally respected award that celebrates educators who make a meaningful impact on learners and communities and awards a cash prize of US$1 million.  

The WCED said the global recognition also validates Belmor Primary’s commitment to inclusive and innovative 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,” read the WCED statement.