Gauteng scooped the most awards in the department of basic education’s 2010 National Teaching Awards.
Out of the eight categories in the awards, Gauteng won in a total of three and was either in second or third position in a further three categories.
The province won in the categories of excellence in secondary school leadership (Christo Thurston), inclusive education and special needs teaching (Anna Pienaar) and adult basic education and training (Douglas Lindumuzi Fakude).
The winners and other finalists were honoured during a gala dinner held at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on February 25 and addressed by Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.
The National Teaching Awards are in their 11th year and have always generated fierce competition among teachers across the nine provinces. The process starts at a district level before it moves on to provincial level and finally culminates in each province nominating one of their teachers in each category.
The department of basic education uses the occasion to celebrate teaching as a profession and recognises outstanding individual teachers. The highly prized lifetime achievement award went to Limpopo’s Piet Swart for the 24 years he has spent building a multicultural and meritocratic school.
In 2009 the Free State won in half of the categories, but only walked away with two awards this year, namely excellence in secondary school teaching (Samuel Mphuthi) and Grade R teaching (Mamokete Zondi).
Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga won in one category each. The former won the excellence in primary school teaching award (Nomvuzo Constance Mtyide) and the latter won in the excellence in primary school leadership category (Thulani Nkosi). KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and North West took runner-up positions.
Speaking on behalf of the awards’ adjudicators, Anita Maritz said she was impressed with the great improvement in the logistics of the National Teaching Awards and the quality of presentations by teachers during their interviews.
“I want to express our gratitude to the department of basic education for being able to hold this gala dinner for the candidates to showcase their expertise. We were inspired by their dedication, resilience to overcome the incredible barriers they face every day, creativity, empathy for the learners and the innovative strategies and techniques they use to teach the challenging curriculum.”
She said she was also struck by the depth of the teachers’ understanding and knowledge of the country’s education policies. Maritz also said she is humbled by the sacrifices that teachers make on a daily basis and how they all appreciate the significance of the awards, with most saying they represent a highlight in their teaching career.
“I think they will go back to their schools as more enlightened people and will encourage other teachers,” said Maritz.