LEFT-HANDERS EDUCATION FORUM AND TRAINING INTERNATIONAL NETWORK

We gathered a panel of seven experts to discuss current issues in the education of left-handed children, from Early education through to high school.

Topics:

• • • Handedness in Today’s Classroom
    • The Computer or the Pen
    • Designing Schools for Everyone
    • Personal Experiences
    • Teacher Training and Inclusivity
    • The World Beyond the Classroom

Our Panel:

Tracy van der Merwe (Moderator) is a registered nurse and midwife and is the driving force behind Left-Hand Learning in South Africa, where she educates teachers, parents, therapists, and healthcare professionals through workshops on all aspects of left-handedness. Her mission is to create awareness, promote understanding, and ensure that left-handed learners are supported to reach their full potential.

Mark Stewart, and his wife Heather, are ex-teachers who started their left-handed business over 32 years ago in Worcester, UK. Together they have produced many handwriting resources which are available online at leftshoponline.co.uk. Mark runs training both in person and with a digital CPD certificated training video. He is also the author of the left-handed section of The Writing Framework, a new policy document produced by the Department for Education in England in July 2025

Steve McGuirk is left-handed and he is a Registered Nurse living in Sydney Australia. He is the Director of Lefty’s Left Handed Products and the Lefty’s Resource Centre and is a Founding Member of LEFT-IN.
He is a strong advocate for improving teacher training and has written a discussion paper on the subject that was presented to a national review of teacher training in 2023.

Bipinchandra Chaugule is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, poet, and journalist from Pune, India, with more than 40 years’ experience in film and television. He is the Founder-President of the Association of Left-handers, India, established in 1991, and has dedicated over three decades to promoting awareness and advocacy for left-handed people. Recognised internationally for his expertise in human handedness, he has written extensively on the subject and is a sought-after speaker across television, radio, and online media.

Emanuella Correia is a researcher, consultant, and trainer dedicated to left-handed education. She is the founder of Canhota, a Brazilian organization that helps teachers and parents better support left-handed children at school and at home. A proud right-handed mom to a left-handed teenager, she combines research, professional experience, and everyday family life to advocate for a world where lefties can thrive.

Albert Lee is a social service practitioner from Singapore with over 20 years’ experience and a passionate advocate for left-handed awareness. His university and master’s research focused on left-handedness, including its impact on education and dyslexia. He uses his expertise to support individuals with diverse learning and developmental needs.

Nkele Sekopamotse (Vee) is an award-winning educational leader, researcher, and advocate for inclusive education in South Africa. She is the National Teaching Awards Winner for Excellence in Primary School Leadership, the EduPulse National Winner for Inclusive Education, and the University of Johannesburg Alumni of the Year (2025). Nkele is an Associate Researcher at the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) and serves in several provincial and national education leadership roles, championing quality education and inclusive learning.