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Media Release

15 September, 2006

WCED honours top teachers

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) presented awards to the top nine teachers in the province at a prestigious ceremony at the Waterfront on Friday night, 15 September 2006.

The awards follow similar ceremonies in the seven education districts of the Western Cape where Education Management and Development Centres presented awards to the top teachers in each district.

The district and provincial awards form part of a process that will culminate in the presentation of the National Teaching Awards (NTA) in Pretoria in November.

The award-winners all share a passion for excellence. In line with the NTA categories, the WCED presented awards to achievers in nine categories, from excellence in early childhood development to an award for lifetime achievement.

Mr Nkosinathi Mkonto, of Chuma Primary School, Khayelitsha, won the award for Excellence in Primary School Teaching.

An expert in curriculum development and a Post Level 1 teacher, Mkonto was appointed as a lead teacher during 2006 NCS GET training and was later nominated as a cluster co-ordinator for eight schools because of his dedication to primary school teaching.

He has a track record of innovative teaching, and has a broad knowledge of languages and helps teachers to develop programmes in Xhosa.

Ms Nombeko Ngubeni, a Physical Science teacher at Percy Mdala Secondary School in Kynsna, won the award for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching.

Ngubeni’s learners have achieved a 100% pass rate for (Mathematics?) in matric over the past five years, thanks to her dedicated teaching, which includes sacrificing her Saturdays for extra classes in maths and science.

She has also received an award from Telkom for Maths and Science Teaching. Ngubeni networks with science experts in the community and science educators from nearby schools.

Abrona Barends, Marilyn Pamplin and Charmane Jacobs of Alpha School for Learners with Autism, Woodstock, received an award as a team for Excellence in Early Childhood Development.

Working alongside parents, this team strives to develop each child holistically to his or her full potential through innovative teaching methods intended to address learner impairments, including communication, language, social interaction, behaviour and imagination. Their motto "Together we stand" shines through the school and its community.

Maria Otto of St Paul’s Primary School, Faure, received an award for Excellence in Inclusive Education and Special Needs Teaching.

A result-oriented support teacher, Otto developed an intervention strategy to improve literacy performance at St Paul’s primary School. As a result, literacy performance improved from 0% to 27,8%.

Otto includes learners with foetal alcohol syndrome in her classes. Her personal motto is: "If you can dream it, you can do it."

Mr Hendrik Brand, of Karookop Primary School, Piketberg, received an award for Excellence in Primary School Leadership.

Brand works closely with the poor community of Piketberg to provide quality education for their children. He employs class assistants from the community and has started a Grade R class to prepare learners for formal schooling. To enhance life experiences of his learners, he arranges visits to Baxter Theatre, Table Mountain and surrounding areas.

Ms Muriel Kroukamp of Riviersonderend Community Learning Centre, Riviersonderend, received an award for Excellence in Adult Basic Education and Training.

Kroukamp has initiated many adult literacy projects after she began her teaching career in 1994 with the Riviersonderend Literacy Project.

She won an award for being an Outstanding Educator in 2002 and has received Centre Manager Prestige Awards twice, in 2001 and 2003. She has fostered many partnerships with private companies and organisations.

Mr Henry Alexander, headmaster at Bernadino Heights Secondary School, Kraaifontein, received an award for Excellence in Secondary School Leadership.

Alexander has worked hard to provide an effective learning environment, in a community experiencing high levels of crime.

Bernadini Heights has consistently received a matric pass rate of 92%. The school’s other awards have included the Most Improved School, a Merit Award and a Commendation Certificate.

Mr Cornelius de Jager of Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch, received a Life-time Achievement Award.

De Jager is credited with introducing soccer and biathle water polo as school sport, and subjects such as additional Mathematics, Domestic science, technical Drawings, French, italian, Mandarin and Isixhosa 2 Language.

He personally collected R1000 000. 00 (that is how the figure appears in my document) when ex President Nelson Mandela officially opened Paul Roos Multi-functional Center.

After his teaching career kicked off in 1971 at Durbanville, he taught mathematics for 22 years and later served as an examiner for mathematics in 1985, 86,90 and 95.


Issued by:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Secretary
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689

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