“It Wasn’t Easy”: Shoprite Cashier Celebrates Qualifying As Pedagogical Practitioner
- A Shoprite cashier shared her incredible journey of completing her Bachelor of Education degree through Unisa while working full-time
- The woman posted a picture of herself in her cashier uniform with a screenshot of the university message confirming she had completed her BEd degree
- South Africans flooded the comments with over 102,000 reactions and 1,000 comments, with many sharing similar stories
Source: TikTok
A Shoprite cashier from KwaZulu-Natal has inspired thousands of South Africans after sharing her amazing achievement of qualifying as a pedagogical practitioner through Unisa.
TikTok user @mpiloh201 posted an emotional photo on 30 August 2025 with the caption:
"It wasn't easy. Father God, I'm grateful."
The woman shared a picture of herself in her Shoprite cashier uniform, smiling proudly at the camera. The image included several text overlays celebrating her success, including "Class of 2025" and "One day I'll become a pedagogical practitioner." Most importantly, she included a screenshot of a text message from Unisa confirming that she had completed her BEd degree and directing her to visit their graduation website for more details.
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Her post quickly went viral, receiving over 102,000 reactions and more than 1,000 comments from South Africans who related to her story. Many people shared how they, too, had worked as cashiers or in retail while studying towards their dream careers, eventually achieving their goals through hard work and determination.
Source: TikTok
Mzansi celebrates Shoprite cashier's achievement
South Africans shared their own inspiring stories in the comments section.
@tumi related:
"Was once a Checkers cashier. Today I am a Pedagogical practitioner in a special school."
@tsakiso_nhlayiseko_ashwin shared:
"Was once a Mr Price worker... Now a qualified pedagogical practitioner. I respect people who work at retail with all of my heart."
@petu_m_2020 celebrated:
"I was a security officer working shifts, and now I'm a pedagogical practitioner. Go girl go, I'm proud of you."
@khanyo expressed excitement:
"I've got an offer next year, I'm starting the journey of being a pedagogical practitioner. Congratulations, stranger."
@mamsomih shared her journey:
"I was once a cashier from Edgars and a till packer at Pick'n Pay, but today I'm proudly an eThekwini municipality Principal clerk."
@phomelelo_mampholo revealed:
"I did my BED while working at Shoprite, it's been 3 years now... Secondary school educator."
What is a pedagogical practitioner
According to experts on Twinkl, a pedagogical practitioner refers to someone who understands different teaching approaches and how they can be influenced by social, historical, and economic factors. The term covers the entire act of teaching, from studying the profession to planning lessons, managing classrooms, and tracking student progress.
Pedagogy comes from the Greek word meaning "a teacher leading a child" and involves both teacher-centred and learner-centred approaches. A qualified pedagogical practitioner understands various teaching styles, feedback methods, and professional development techniques. They study different approaches like behaviourism, constructivism, and dialogic learning to find the best methods for their students.
The role requires understanding classroom management, educational psychology, and teaching strategies. Modern pedagogical practitioners learn to balance sharing their knowledge while encouraging students to become independent learners and critical thinkers.
View the TikTok post below:
Other stories about retail workers
- Briefly News recently reported on a Shoprite employee who achieved five promotions and showed their remarkable career journey, but their final destination left many amazed.
- A cashier and her boyfriend shared street food during her work break in a TikTok video, but the sweet detail about their relationship had South Africans melting.
- A till cashier shared her alleged monthly salary that left South Africans with many questions, but her real reason for posting might surprise you.
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Source: Briefly News
