From working as a security officer to becoming a lecturer and PhD graduate, Dr Mumsy Boikanyo's journey at the North-West University (NWU) is a powerful reminder that one's beginnings do not have to determine one's future.
Born and raised in Mahikeng in North West, Dr Boikanyo's path to academia was far from conventional. She grew up in a financially disadvantaged family where access to educational opportunities was limited. She was the first person in her family to reach matric and pursue higher education.
Her journey included becoming a mother at 18, experiencing the disappointment of failing matric and entering the workforce as a security officer to provide for her child. Yet, despite these challenges, she never abandoned her aspirations for a better future.
Today, she serves as a lecturer in the School of Psychosocial Education at the NWU, where she teaches English and Setswana, contributes to teacher development and conducts research in early childhood education.
For Dr Boikanyo, her professional journey is particularly meaningful because the NWU has been part of her story at different stages, first as an employee in the security department, later as a student and alumnus, and now as an academic and researcher.
“My experience as a security officer came very early in my working life, long before I became a lecturer or pursued my PhD. I had a child who depended on me and I understood that I needed to find a way to earn a living. It was a practical decision driven by responsibility and the need to survive,” she explains.
What makes her story remarkable is that the institution where she once worked to provide for her child eventually became the place where she would pursue her academic ambitions and contribute to the development of future teachers.
Reclaiming an educational dream
Although she initially dreamed of becoming a television presenter or actress, an opportunity to work as an assistant teacher at a primary school introduced her to the fulfilment of teaching. “I completely fell in love with teaching. I discovered that I genuinely enjoyed working with children and being part of their learning and development,” she says.
This experience inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching.
She subsequently completed a master's degree in curriculum studies at Concordia University in Portland while working as a primary school teacher. After completing her master's degree, she joined the NWU as a lecturer, transitioning from basic education into higher education. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD, with doctoral research focusing on educational applications that foster metacognition and pre-reading skills in early childhood education.
In simple terms, her research explored how educational applications can support young children's ability to think about their own learning, engage with information and develop foundational skills needed for reading. Her research reflects her interest in understanding how technology, when used purposefully and appropriately for children's developmental stages, can enhance teaching and learning during the early years.
Overcoming challenges beyond the classroom
While her academic achievements are significant, Dr Boikanyo's doctoral journey was accompanied by some of the most difficult personal experiences of her life. During her studies, she navigated bereavement, divorce and motherhood while managing the intellectual and emotional demands of doctoral research. “Having to navigate grief, the end of a marriage, motherhood and the intellectual demands of a PhD simultaneously was incredibly difficult,” she reflects.
Her faith, determination and commitment to her goals helped her through these difficult periods. “I learnt that strength is not the absence of pain, it is the decision to keep moving forward while carrying it.”
She also acknowledges the important role played by her children, friends, pastors, teachers and academic supervisor, whose encouragement helped her remain committed to her aspirations.
Financial support was another important factor in her educational journey. After initially facing admission challenges because she did not have matric exemption, she explored alternative admission arrangements, including an age exemption. She subsequently accessed financial assistance through NSFAS, teacher bursaries and the Funza Lushaka bursary programme.
“Sometimes people assume that university is beyond their reach because they cannot afford it or because their academic history is unconventional. My own experience has shown me that there may be alternative admission routes and financial support mechanisms that can make higher education accessible.”
Turning research into practical solutions
Beyond obtaining her doctorate, Dr Boikanyo is passionate about ensuring that academic research has a meaningful impact outside university environments.
One of her aspirations is to translate her doctoral research into an educational technology product that supports young children's metacognition and pre-reading skills. She hopes to develop an educational application that is not simply designed to entertain children but also encourages them to think, make decisions, solve problems and develop foundational learning skills.
“One of my biggest hopes was that my research would not simply become another thesis sitting on a university library shelf, waiting for someone to discover it. For me, the next chapter is about moving from knowledge creation to knowledge application,” she says.
This ambition reflects her broader commitment to connecting research with everyday educational practice, particularly in communities where children may not have equal access to quality early learning resources. As a lecturer at the School of Psychosocial Education, she also takes pride in contributing to the development of future teachers.
“I aspire to be the kind of lecturer who inspires. I want my students to look at me and see possibilities. I want them to recognise that they can achieve more than they may currently imagine for themselves.”
An inspiration to the NWU community
Dr Boikanyo's journey has given her a particular appreciation of the different people and roles that make up a university community.
Having experienced the NWU as a security officer, student, alumnus and now lecturer, she understands the institution from different perspectives.
She hopes her story will encourage students who are facing financial difficulties, academic setbacks or personal challenges, as well as staff members who may currently be working outside their desired professions.
Looking towards the next five to ten years, she hopes to establish herself further as an academic and researcher in early childhood education and educational technology, while developing practical learning resources that can benefit children, parents and teachers.
Reflecting on her journey, she offered a message to graduates and anyone who feels that their current employment or circumstances have placed their ambitions beyond reach: “There is dignity in every honest job and there is no shame in doing what you need to do to provide for yourself and your family. Sometimes life requires us to prioritise survival before we can fully pursue our ambitions. However, I would encourage people not to abandon their dreams. Continue learning, continue developing your skills and remain open to opportunities.”
Motivating young people looking up to her, she highlighted that perhaps the most fitting reflection on her journey is her message to the younger version of herself, the young woman who once struggled to imagine a future beyond her circumstances. “I would tell her that she is going to surprise herself. I would tell her not to be ashamed of her beginnings, not to measure her worth by her circumstances and not to allow the expectations of others to determine what she believes she can achieve.”
She concludes with a message that captures the essence of her journey: “My journey has taught me that we must never confuse our beginnings with our destiny.”
From a security officer at the NWU to a PhD graduate and lecturer at the same institution, Dr Boikanyo's story demonstrates the transformative possibilities of education, perseverance and the courage to pursue opportunities, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
Dr Mumsy Boikanyo
