Gauteng province scooped the most awards in the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) 2010 National Teaching Awards (NTA) held last night at the Presidential Guesthouse House in Pretoria.
Out of the eight categories, Gauteng won three and was a runner-up in all categories except for excellence in primary school teaching and grade R teaching. It 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 Fakude).
In 2009 it was the Free State that won half the categories. The winners and other finalists were honoured during a glittering gala dinner addressed by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.
In its 11th year, the national teaching awards are a culmination of a process that starts at the district level before it moves onto provincial levels and has always generated fierce competition among teachers across the nine provinces. The DBE uses the occasion to recognise and celebrate outstanding individual teachers and teaching as a profession.
The highly prized lifetime achievement award went to Limpopo’s Piet Swart. Free State province won only two categories this time: excellence in secondary school teaching (Samuel Mphuthi); and excellence in Grade R teaching (Mamokete Zondi).
The Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga each won a category — the former winning the excellence in primary school teaching award (Nomvuzo Constance Mtyide) and the latter winning the excellence in primary school leadership award (Thulani Nkosi). KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and North West provinces took runner-up positions.
Speaking on behalf of the awards’ adjudicators, Anita Maritz said she was impressed with the “great improvement” in the logistics and the smooth running of the NTA and the quality of presentations by teachers during the interviews.
“I want to express our gratitude to the DBE 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 everyday, creativity, empathy to the learners and the innovative strategies and techniques they use to teach the challenging curriculum,” said Maritz
She said she was also struck by the depth of the teachers’ understanding and knowledge of the country’s education policies. She said she is humbled by the sacrifices that teachers make and how they all appreciate the significance of the awards with most saying these represent a highlight in their teaching career. “I think they will go back more enlightened persons and would certainly encourage other teachers when they get back at their schools,” said Maritz.
Results of the National Teaching Awards 2010
Excellence in Primary School Teaching
Winner: Nomvuzo Constance Mtyide,
St Patrick’s Junior Secondary School, Eastern Cape
Second position: Cindy Olivier,
Potchefstroom Central School, North West
Third position: Micheline Ashley,
Kirstenhof Primary School, Western Cape
Excellence in Secondary School Teaching
Winner: Samuel Mphuthi,
Rekgotsofetse Secondary School, Free State
Second position: Pregason A Moodley,
Kharina Secondary School, KZN
Third position: Anastacia Manganyi,
DC Marivhate Junior Secondary School, Gauteng
Excellence in Primary School Leadership
Winner: Thulani Z Nkosi,
Mlondozi Primary School, Mpumalanga
Second position: Imtiaz A Adams,
Surrey Primary School, Western Cape
Third position: Pumza Mbakaza,
Gideon Rambuwani Primary School, Gauteng
Excellence in Secondary School Leadership
Winner: Christo Thurston,
Riverside High School, Gauteng
Second position: David Millar,
Norman Henshilwood School, Western Cape
Third position: Nomtshato M Koma,
Lebogang Senior Secondary School, Free State
Excellence in Grade R Teaching
Winner: Mamokete Zondi,
Mehopung Primary School, Free State
Second position: Juanita van der Merwe,
Hoërskool Piketberg, Western Cape
Third position: Marlie Kember,
Asjassies Pre-Primary School, North West
Excellence in Inclusive Education and Special Needs Teaching
Winner: Anna Pienaar,
ALMA School, Gauteng
Second position: Zelda de Villiers,
Jan Kriel School, Western Cape
Third position: Hetta Barnard,
ES Le Grange School, North West
Excellence in Adult Basic Education and Training
Winner: Douglas Fakude,
Wattville Adult Education Centre, Gauteng
Second position: Moses M Mohao,
Ponelopele ABET Centre, North West
Third position: Thembeni Seale,
Ntsie ABET Centre, Mpumalanga
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Piet E Swart,
Ben Vorster High School, Limpopo
Second position: Mieta K Mtshali,
Dikgabane Primary School, Gauteng
Third position: Daniel M Khothule,
Dirisanang Intermediate School, Free State
For the complete profiles of all the finalists click here