That moment of mixed feelings: feeling special and valued on the one hand, and scared on the other. This was the day I received my National Teaching Award (NTA).
All finalists in the category of excellence in primary school leadership, as well as secondary school teaching, from South Africa’s nine provinces gathered at the Kopanong Conference Centre in Gauteng on the morning of October 7, 2003.
Tensions rising, everyone is in his/her corner with material we think will help make the difference in the adjudication. We only small talk to each other, then concentrate on the ‘adjudication material”, always ensuring that ‘rivals” do not see what you have. The situation was so tense, it felt like a matter of life or death.
The NTA co-ordinator, Mrs Nxesi, before commencing with the adjudication, requested all of us to gather in a conference room to meet us. She indicated that the aim of the gathering is to outline certain issues of importance and to get to know us. She stressed that we were all winners. We are the cream of the country, she said. We have proved that we are indeed excellent educators.
She said that the Department of Education wanted us to gather for a few days to ensure that we share ideas, expertise, problems, frustrations and solutions towards teaching the South African child. What is necessary is to nurture all children to be productive, innovative, vibrant and marketable future citizens.
At that moment it was such a relief – to everyone I suppose. One could see the level of tension dropping, smiles on our faces as a heavy burden was moved from our shoulders. By the time we left the conference room we were bright and alive, ready to face the adjudication panel.
We started chatting, rolling out ideas on how to make the difference in people’s lives and showing each other the profiles and learning aids. What a day! I left the adjudication room fulfilled, feeling like a winner already. I slept like a winner. At one stage I imagined myself holding the Award Prize. The following morning was time to check out, phone-numbers were exchanged and we hugged each other – saying: ‘See you at the Presidential House for winners’ celebrations.” That day was all about making South Africa a winning nation through education.
The Department of Education booked us all into the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria for November 6 and 7, 2003 for the Recognition of Excellence in Teaching ceremony. I cannot forget that moment of arrival at the hotel. The reception at the Presidential Guest House clearly evidenced that noble people have landed in Pretoria. Table settings, the meal, poets, speeches by the Deputy President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and the then Minister of Education, Kader Asmal, the choir and the music – everything was fabulous.
Wow! Then the moment we had all been waiting for came – finalists results. Even though I was so nervous that I could barely think, my eyes could see my photo on the big screen. I obtained the third finalist position.
For a moment I could not move, but colleagues around me made me realise that I need to go to the podium, all clapping and some hugging me. That feeling of touching the Deputy President and the Minister’s flesh —
Although we did not have families to celebrate with us, we enjoyed the thought that we were the cream of the teaching profession.
It was all about supporting each other. One could be humbled by this gesture and learn a lot from this.
It is not about who is the winner, but that we all are doing our best to educate the precious gift of every family, nation and country, the child.