On 18 September, we hosted this year’s Dr John Boje Conversations, and in a serendipitous turn of events, everyone on stage was beautifully interlinked.
Mr Ndumiso Mtshali is an alumnus of Waterkloof House Preparatory School (WHPS), St Alban’s College, and the University of Pretoria, and both Prof. Shakila Dada and Ms Chereen Cloete are parents of young boys at WHPS and St Alban’s College, making this conversation not only professional but also deeply personal.

The conversation began with Mr Mtshali sharing his experience of growing up with a non-verbal autistic brother, a journey that shaped his sense of purpose and calling to become a teacher. His recent Honours in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has deepened his conviction that children learn in different ways, and it is the fundamental responsibility of teachers to unlock that hidden potential.

Professor Dada, as Director of the Centre for AAC, highlighted the exceptional work being done in this field. Her most profound reminder was that it is often environmental barriers, rather than the person, that create disadvantage. Once the right tools and opportunities are provided, the playing field is levelled, and every individual can participate and thrive. She called on us to carry this mindset and conviction forward as changemakers in our fields.

Finally, Ms Cloete, our Educational Psychologist, contextualised how these lessons relate to us as a mainstream school. She reminded us that academic support is not cheating, a shortcut, or an unfair advantage; rather, it is a profound way of promoting equality in education and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to flourish.
This year’s theme, “Smart Doesn’t Look the Same”, invited us to move beyond narrow definitions of intelligence and celebrate the many ways children can thrive. What an inspiring and important conversation for our community.💡