Statement by Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department warmly congratulates Ms Vanessa Thaver (Golden Grove Primary School, Rondebosch) and Mr John Bekkers (formerly of Athlone High School) on being chosen provincial winners of the annual Mathematics and Science Teacher of the Year Competition in the categories, respectively, of practising and retired educators. The awards were announced on Friday 20 February at a function at the Constantia Conference Centre.

The Western Cape’s other Mathematics and Science Teacher of the Year (MSTOTY) finalists were:

Practising category:
Ms Corrie Joubert - Montagu High School (Provincial runner-up)
Mr Freddie Conradie - Gericke Primary School
Ms Estelle De Wit - Panorama Primary School
Ms Alicia Keet - Macassar Secondary School
Ms Cynthia Matthys - Noordhoek Primary School
Ms Nombeko Barbara Msizi - Percy Mdala High School
Mr Andile Ngxoza - Cravenby Secondary School
Ms Maggie Philemon - Heideveld Senior Secondary School
Mr Denzyl Witbooi - Matthew Goniwe High School

Retired category:
Ms Bets Lourens of Vredenburg
Mr Kenneth Sampson of Cape Town
Ms Debbie Stanley of Knysna

The annual MSTOTY competition is sponsored by Telkom, Protec, The Sowetan and the Shuttleworth Foundation.

The process of selecting the provincial winners began in September last year when schools and parents were invited to nominate candidates in each of the two categories. Competition at district level narrowed the field down to the provincial finalists from whom the two provincial winners have been chosen.

The aim of the MSTOTY awards is to foster and promote improvement in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science.

This is a goal of crucial importance to the socio-economic development and well-being of our province and our country, and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has whole-heartedly supported the MSTOTY awards programme since its first inception.

It is a valuable addition to the wide range of programmes through which the WCED is striving to improve our learners’ performances in these two key subjects, and we warmly commend its sponsors for the contribution they are making in this way. Partnerships of this kind between the private sector and the state can be of incalculable benefit to the cause of education.

The WCED congratulates everyone who reached the provincial finals and thanks them for their contribution to the teaching of Mathematics and Science. As best practising teacher of Maths and Science, Ms Thaver wins a computer and R1 000 in cash, and as best retired teacher of these subjects Mr Bekkers wins R1 000 in cash.

Our provincial winners will now represent the Western Cape in the national finals which take place in Johannesburg March 18^th. We wish them both every success.