In an interestingly fun and insightful lesson on leadership and responsibility, educators at SOS Africa Elgin recently flipped the script by letting their students take over the classroom for a day!
Elgin, South Africa (18 September 2026) – A lesson in leadership and responsibility took an interestingly different approach at SOS Africa recently, where learners weren’t just educated in the qualities a leader should have, but were placed in the position to be one in the classroom!
Last week at SOS Africa Elgin, the staff organised a role-switching activity where the learners became the teachers for the day, while the teachers took on the role of students.
Each learner-teacher decided on the subject and activity they wanted to present. Mpidiseng chose to teach Mathematics, while Eva chose English and decided to conduct a spelling test. Both learners took their roles seriously and made an effort to present themselves as teachers.
“This was a very exciting and enjoyable activity because it gave the learners an opportunity to experience what it is like to be in front of a classroom and take responsibility for their classmates,” SOS Africa shared.
The activity was fun and insightful, as it allowed teachers to see the different leadership qualities of the learners.
“It was interesting to see how they stood in front of the class, explained the work, gave instructions, and interacted with their classmates.”
The learners also really enjoyed being given the opportunity to take on the teacher’s role. They were excited to give instructions and, in some cases, even acted like their teachers, using phrases and gestures that they had observed.
“They found it funny and enjoyable to see their teachers sitting at the desks and answering questions like students. The change in roles created a relaxed and positive atmosphere in the classrooms, and many of the learners were eager to participate.”
Teachers were able to observe the learners from a different point of view. Beyond a child sitting at a desk, they got to see their personalities, creativity, confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities.
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Overall, the role-switching activity was a fun and meaningful experience for everyone involved – the learners thrived being in charge, while their teachers loved watching them confidently take on the challenge!
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