The MEC for education, Tate Makgoe, has showered the four teachers who scooped awards at the 2012 National Teachers Awards (NTA) with praises for their hard work and dedication to educating children of the province.
The auspicious awards ceremony was held at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg last week Thursday.
The purpose of the NTA is to recognise and award teachers that makes a difference in various schools in the country. Last year’s theme for the awards was: “Our Teachers, Our Inspiration”.
Johannes Melesi, a principal at the Kopanong High School in Mangaung, took the first prize in the special Professor Kader Asmal Excellence in Teaching Awards category, while Anita van Vuuren of the Universitas High School also took the first position of the ICT Awards.
Nthokgoane Mofokeng from Tikwe Primary School took a second place in the Excellence in Primary School Leadership category. Johannes Mofokeng came second in the KhareGude Special award for volunteer teachers.
Melesi said he was happy that his work was recognised after being in the profession for the past 28 years.
He said he was motivated by the dedication of learners at his school, a majority of which comes from poor backgrounds. Melesi said all the school he has led in the past have always produced excellent results.
According to Melesi, he took over as the principal of Kopanong High School in 2008 and last year the school’s first grade 12 class, achieved a 95.6 percent pass rate. He said he is worried that his learners are vulnerable to a life of crime and drugs.
“Ever since I became a teacher I always made sure that the learners that I taught had discipline. My secret to success is that I treat every child as if is mine, I love and listen to them but when they are wrong I show them that they are wrong,” said Melesi.
Melesi said he has developed special study programmes for needy learners. He has conducted workshops for teachers and principal of underperforming schools on behalf of the department. He thanked his team of teachers for supporting him and assisting him excel at his job.
Mofokeng, on the other hand, said she was overwhelmed and now felt motivated to do more.
“My school is at a disadvantaged area and it consists of 1 154 learners from poor backgrounds and 24 of them are disabled. I have always had a heart for children and working with them brightens up my life every day.”
Mofokeng praised the Free State department of education for giving schools and teachers support to excel in their work. She said being at the NTA was a great achievement for her and she learnt a lot from her colleagues in other provinces.
Free State education MEC, Tate Makgoe, praised the winning teachers for making the province very proud by sharing and showcasing the best teaching practices in the province with the rest of the country.
“This is a clear indication that our education is in the safe hands of heroes and heroines who do their best to produce great leaders from our province. Congratulations are in order for Johannes Monnaphiri Melesi, of Kopanong Secondary School for scooping the Professor Kader Asmal Excellence Award” said Makgoe.
All the nine teachers from the Free State were representing the province on the following categories:
- Excellence in Primary School Teaching, Excellence in Secondary School Teaching;
- Excellence in Primary School;
- Leadership Excellence in Secondary School Leadership;
- Excellence in grade R Teaching;
- Excellence in Special Needs Teaching;
- Excellence in ICT – Enhanced Teaching; and
- Lifetime Achievement Awards.
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