By OBAKENG MAJE
Top teachers were rewarded for their excellence at the 2022 annual National Teaching Awards (NTAs) ceremony held at held CSIR Convention Centre, in Pretoria on Thursday.
The North West province stole the show during the prestigious event and scooped six awards. The North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said, they have sent six candidates out of thirteen who won during the provincial awards to represent them.
“All six candidates brought home various awards from the national level. Mmabatho High School teacher, Tebogo Mokwene obtained position one in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics FET category. Mokwene, who is also a Mathematics tutor for “Dial a Tutor” programme, taught learners Mathematics through social media platforms, YouTube.
“The “Dial a Tutor” programme, which is a telephone system, aims at helping secondary school learners in the province. Mokwenen also uses songs to entice learners to different concepts in the subject,” Matsemela said.
She further said, Dikeledi Sekopamotse from Platinum village in Rustenburg, obtained the first position in Excellence in Primary School Leadership category. Matsemela added that, Sekopamotse is the founding principal of the school.
“Another winner, Tsholofelo Lechuti from Tswelelopele Secondary School in Itsoseng Township, near Lichtenburg scooped the second prize in Excellence in Secondary School Teaching category. Lechuti is offering English First Additional Language on YouTube and her lessons are used by other teachers in their schools,” she said.
The Reabona Secondary School teacher, Bongumusa Mabuza in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, obtained the second position in the Excellence in Teaching Physical Science category. According to Matsemela, Mabuza strives to change the ‘famous belief’ that, science is difficult.
“He is using all the available resources to impart knowledge to his learners.
Lezeth Van Der Walt from Hoerskool Skoonspruit in Klerksdorp won the second position in the Excellence in Technology – Enhanced Teaching and Learning category.
“She serves as an ICT manager, senior Hostel Official, sports coach, a member in numerous committees and organises Olympiads at her school. Marakane Mokhele from Areitshokeng Primary School in Jouberton Township, Klerksdorp, won the third position in the Excellence in Grade R Teaching category,” said Matsemela.
She said, Mokhele is not only contributing positively in class but also engages with learners in different sporting codes.
“North West is now a force to be reckoned with in all competitions within the sector. I would like to congratulate all those teachers who have made our province proud. I regard them as heroes to our children in different schools.
“Recently in the music competitions, we brought home many trophies and we were crowned as the best province. I am very excited that our province has also retained the first position in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics FET category,” she said.
Matsemela calls on all teachers in the province to continue to sacrifice their family time and spend it with the learners. She said, next year they aiming high and would love to see many teachers taking part in this competition next year.
The position one winners walked away with Tablet and laptop fully loaded with data for 12 months, R10 000 cash for the school, training courses, Fundza Lushaka bursary to a learner and a computer lab for the school.
The Guardian 