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Media Release

11 October, 2002


W Cape teachers win national awards

Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

At the National Teaching Awards, held in Pretoria last night (10 October 2002), five of our teachers from the Western Cape received awards.

There were seven categories and three winners in each category. The following Western Cape teachers were announced as winners in the following categories:

  • Mr Colin Baron received an award for Excellence in Primary School Leadership;
  • Ronel Barkhuysen, Lorinda Verwey and Megan Miranda received an award for Excellence in Early Childhood Development; and
  • Mr Trevor Webster received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

I am extremely proud of the teachers in this province and would like to congratulate these winners on their tremendous achievement. I trust that they will go from strength to strength.

Thank you educators for your hard work and commitment to excellence in education.

Let us all put learning first, so that together we can break through to a better future.

The following are profiles of our national winners:

  • CATEGORY:   EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL
  • WINNER:   Colin Baron, Imperial Primary School

    Colin Baron has proved that success is what you make of a particular situation, and how best to use available resources is key to making things happen. Together with the staff of Imperial Primary School, Colin Baron has turned the school around into a well-resourced and financially sustainable institution. He played a major role in motivating his staff and the school community to commit to a long term vision of the school as a centre of excellence. They are progressing at a furious pace in realizing this vision!

  • CATEGORY:   EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
  • WINNER:   Welgemoed Pre-primary School - Ronel Barkhuysen, Lorinda Verwey
                     and Megan Miranda


    Ronel Barkhuysen, Lorinda Verwey and Megan Miranda teach at Welgemoed Pre-primary School. They have developed and grown as an effective teaching unit, meeting regularly to develop materials, and organizing activities inside and outside the school environment. An outstanding feature is their involvement in networking with other schools so as to enhance the teaching methods used in the early childhood development phase.

  • CATEGORY:   LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  • WINNER:   Trevor Webster, The Settlers High School

    Trevor Webster has been the principal of The Settlers High School for the past fourteen years. His career, spanning over thirty eight years, is marked by an unwavering commitment to delivering the best and by leading by example. He is regarded by many as an education pioneer- introducing new policies and management systems at the school- and is well respected within the education fraternity.



    See also the profiles of the winners of the Western Cape Provincial Awards.


    Media inquiries:
    Ruhan Robbertze
    Cell: 082 577 6551
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