From rural roots to doctoral heights

Born in 1954 in the rural village of Marapyane, Mpumalanga, Dr Motswalle Christina Kanyane, affectionately known as Phokeng, embodies the spirit of perseverance and lifelong learning. Raised by a single mother whose highest qualification was standard six, Kanyane’s early life was shaped by modest beginnings and unyielding determination.

Her mother, like most women in her family, worked as a domestic servant in Johannesburg. Despite the limited opportunities available, she was resolute in ensuring that her daughter would have a better future. With encouragement and financial support from her employers, as well as those of her aunts and grandmother, young Kanyane was sent to boarding school at the age of 13. This marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of education. By 1974, she had completed her Primary Teacher’s Course (PTC), setting the foundation for her impactful career in education.

Kanyane’s journey toward a PhD was deeply personal, inspired by a shared dream she and her husband once nurtured to both earn their doctoral degrees by the age of 55. Although life’s circumstances delayed that goal, it remained a constant motivation throughout her career.

While her husband advanced through university studies, Kanyane continued teaching and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, followed by a BA Honours in History from Unisa. Her teaching career spanned primary schools, high schools, and colleges of education before she transitioned into corporate training and facilitation.

After taking early retirement at 55, Kanyane realised that one lifelong goal still awaited fulfilment: a PhD. Returning to the academic space reignited her passion for research and curriculum development. Her experiences teaching at a TVET college inspired her to examine the National Certificate (Vocational) curriculum in greater depth.

Her academic journey led her from a BEd Honours degree at the University of Pretoria, where she explored curriculum design, to a Master of Education degree, which focused on lecturers’ experiences in implementing the National Certificate (Vocational) programme. The PhD awarded to her on the 13^th of October 2025 expanded this exploration by investigating the relevance of the National Certificate (Vocational) curriculum and the employability of its graduates, addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment in South Africa.

Kanyane’s long-standing relationship with Unisa has been integral to her success. As an honours student, Unisa provided her with employment as an administrative assistant, which helped fund her studies. Later, during her master’s and doctoral studies, she received bursary support that made her research journey possible.

She credits the university’s library services, academic resources, and, most notably, her supervisors, for their invaluable mentorship and encouragement. Professors Mpho-Entle Modise and Eleanor Lemmer, her academic supervisors who played instrumental roles in guiding her through the rigours of postgraduate research, offering both academic and emotional support.

“My supervisors were not only guides, they were my counsellors, but I could also share my thoughts freely, knowing they were committed to seeing me succeed,” she reflects.

She further encourages students to prepare thoroughly for data collection, particularly when navigating the complexities of gatekeeping in research environments.

* By Freddy Abilio Mlambo, Acting Marketing and Communication Specialist, College of Education