My Durban Experience: Sharing Lesotho’s Literacy Story at SAERA 2025 Conference
By: Khosi Mofolisa
Education Officer, Dolen Cymru Lesotho
From the 3rd to the 6th of November 2025, I had the privilege of travelling to Durban, South Africa, to attend the South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Annual Conference. The event was held at the scenic Elangeni, Southern Sun Hotel, offering a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean – an inspiring backdrop for meaningful academic dialogue and reflection.
This year’s conference theme, “Education in a Time of Polycrisis: Pathways of Hope, Creativity and Affirmation Ethics,” reflected the urgent need for educators and researchers to reimagine education in a rapidly changing world. Hosted by the School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the conference brought together passionate professionals, researchers, and education leaders from across Africa and beyond.
I had the honour of presenting my paper titled “Investigating Early Grades Teachers’ Experiences on the Synthetic Phonics Approach, Specifically Jolly Phonics, in Three Primary Schools in Maseru.” My presentation explored the experiences of early-grade teachers in Lesotho implementing the Jolly Phonics approach to strengthen children’s foundational literacy skills. It was rewarding to share insight from Lesotho and to reflect on how research can inform classroom practice and national literacy efforts.
Among the engaging sessions and presentations, I attended were:
- “What is ‘Participatory Visual Research, and Why Is It Important?” – a discussion about inclusion and collaboration in research processes.
- “Theoritising in the Posthuman Condition: Rethinking Education” – which challenged us to consider how education evolves in a technologically advanced and interconnected world.
- “Activating Formative Assessment to Enhance Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Education Programmes” – which provided inspiring ideas to strengthen teacher education and classroom assessment practices.
Beyond the academic programme, I was deeply inspired by conversation with professors and experienced researchers who shared their journeys and practical examples of applying theory into practice. What fascinated me most was that there were more Professors and PhD holders that Mr/Ms! That alone sparked a dream within me – to one day called Professor.
I made a personal commitment that no SAERA conference will ever pass me by – I will attend every year, present my research, and publish at least one paper annually. I also made meaningful connections with professionals from various universities, relationships that I believe will grow into valuable collaborations.
My “laughable” Experience in Durban
Every trip comes with its surprise – and mine was no exception! Being a novice in travel booking, I mistakenly booked accommodation far, far away from the conference venue, thinking it was nearby. Upon arrival, I accompanied my travel companion to this check-in at the Elangeni Hotel and then asked a parking marshal about my place. He confidently assured me that it was not far – so we relaxed, took a lovely stroll to the beach, and enjoyed the Durban breeze.
But when finally set off for my accommodation, we drove for more than 45 minutes! We were both speechless – and slightly furious. To make matters worse, when we arrived, I discovered it was a self-service guesthouse with no receptionist, just a phone number and instruction to follow. The uber rides from that area to the conference venue would cost over R300 one way!
Thankfully, a good Samaritan came to my rescue the next morning, helping me collect my belongings and find a place much closer to the venue. Looking back, it was quite a “laughable” experience – one that taught me a valuable lesson about checking maps before booking!
Inspired for the Future
The conference not only enriched my academic understanding but also opened my eyes to the world of educational research. I heard about other upcoming conferences, including one that will be held online overseas, which I plan to register for and hopefully present my paper. I also learnt about global research bodies such as the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the World Education Research Association (WERA) – and I am eager to explore ways to engage with such international platforms.
Attending SAERA 2025 was both academically enriching and personally transformative. I returned to Lesotho inspired, motivated, and ready to continue contributing to the field of education – through research, collaboration, and renewed sense of purpose.
