A principal from KwaZulu-Natal has been named Super Teacher of the Year for his efforts to take information technology into his community.
Caleb Bhengu, principal of Esigodini Primary School in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, received his award from the Internet Service Providers’ Association of South Africa (ISPA) in Johannesburg.
The Super Teacher of the Year award acknowledges the educator who has most successfully imparted their newly acquired IT knowledge to their local communities after participating in ISPA’s national train the teachers project.
Bhengu was conferred the award on the grounds that he anticipated an opportunity to benefit the community through education. The computer centre is fully utilised day and night by scholars, teachers and the community.
Speaking at the award function, Bhengu said: ‘There is a famous quote that says time and tide wait for no man. Well, the fact that we live in the information age highlights the need for individuals to become computer literate. I am proud to say that about 70% of the staff at Esigodini Primary School is now computer literate and this has had a tremendous impact on our productivity.”
He added: ‘Gone are the days when teachers needed to approach the clerk when preparing schedules, examination papers and invitations. Our computer centre gives teachers the opportunity to accomplish all their tasks in a fraction of the time that conventional methods would have normally allowed. As an educator, I perceived it to be my responsibility to take action for the benefit of our school and ultimately our community.” — the Teacher reporter
The other Super Teachers
A total of 22 finalists from Gauteng, North West and KwaZulu-Natal were selected from 204 entries.
The two runners-up were Principal Florence Fhatuwani Matshusa from Nyadzani Secondary School in Makhado, Limpopo, and Mmipe George Mokgehle, principal of Kokona Dikgale Primary School in Polokwane, Limpopo.