5 March 2007
Three teachers from Worcester, Cape Town and Paarl have won the provincial
Aggrey Klaaste Maths, Science and Technology Teacher of the Year Awards for
2007.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) presented the awards on Friday
night, 2 March 2007, in association with The Telkom Foundation, The Aggrey
Klaaste Nation Building Foundation and the Sowetan newspaper.
The awards are named after the late Aggrey Klaaste, a respected journalist.
Among many other things, he will best be remembered for his Nation Building
Initiative, which he introduced when he became editor of the Sowetan newspaper
in 1988, during the most turbulent time in the history of apartheid South
Africa.
The Maths, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Awards is arguably
one of the most successful projects in the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building
portfolio. Over the past few years, it has become a prestigious programme that
continues to uncover top achievers among South Africa's teaching corps.
Now in their ninth year, the awards recognise excellence in teaching maths,
science and technology in general and further education and training in
schools, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET), Further Education and Training
(FET), and the contribution of retired teachers.
The WCED will now send the names of the winners of the Western Cape awards
to the national Department of Education for consideration for the national
awards, to be presented on 22 March 2007. The Western Cape winners are:
Category: Practising Educator, GET
Winner: Ms Joey Griessel, Worcester East Primary School, Worcester
Category: Practising Educator, FET
Winner: Mr Zeid Baker, South Peninsula High School, Cape Town
Category: Retired Educator
Winner: Ms Denise Ontong, formerly of William Lloyd Primary School, Paarl
Criteria for the awards include their track record in producing good
results, their passion for the subject and how they install a love of the
subject among learners, leading by example, respected by their community, and
their involvement in the communities they serve.
The judges assess candidates' knowledge of the public image of maths,
science and technology. The educators must be active in professional
associations, have excellent content knowledge, and must present themselves
well.
Ms Griessel, a Senior Teacher, is head of the Natural Sciences learning
area, Grade 6 head and co-ordinator of the Intermediate Phase at Worcester East
Primary.
In these capacities, she has worked tirelessly to ensure excellence in
teaching and learning, through her own teaching, and through the leadership and
support she gives to her colleagues and learners.
The school's results reflect this commitment, which has been noted by high
schools attended by learners from Worcester East.
Ms Griessel has attended a wide range of courses and has played a leading
role in promoting natural sciences, conservation and awareness of energy issues
among parents, the business community and in the broader community.
Mr Baker, an ex-student of South Peninsula High School, has a B Ed degree
specialising in science education. He has obtained excellent matric results
throughout his career at the school.
He is an excellent demonstrator of science practicals and has acted as
moderator in matric biology examinations. Mr Baker regularly enters South
Peninsula students in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Science Olympiad.
The organisers of the National Science Olympiad invited him to judge the
Olympiad in Pretoria last year. He saw three Grade 10 students present a
project in Pretoria last year in a programme organised by the Department of
Public Works.
Mr Baker and a colleague were the Western Cape winners of the Excellence in
Secondary School teaching awards in 2002. He was offered a Fulbright
scholarship in the United States, but declined owing to family and financial
commitments. In addition to teaching, he is deputy principal of the school and
has acted as principal.
Ms Ontong has committed herself to supporting maths, science and technology
education voluntarily since she retired five years ago.
She works with 42 schools in the Paarl, Wellington, Simondium, Mbekweni and
Franschhoek areas. Her many achievements include establishing four maths and
science community centres where she draws learners from various schools
together to learn more about maths and science after school and during school
holidays.
Projects of the maths and science centres include preparing learners for
local and provincial Maths Olympiads and Science Expos.
Ms Ontong and a group of teachers have facilitated the Maths Olympiad
process in Paarl, to prepare learners for the provincial Olympiad held annually
at the University of Cape Town.
Ms Ontong and her team have also encouraged schools to participate in
Science Expos. As a result, 28 schools participated in the local Expo last
year, where 128 learners presented 64 projects.
Twenty-five of these projects appeared at the provincial Expo in
Stellenbosch. Three learners presented their projects on a national level in
Pretoria in September, accompanied by Ms Ontong.
The three winners of the provincial awards each won R5 000 and a certificate
of recognition. Ms Griessel and Mr Baker received personal computers. Ms
Griessel's school won a computer laboratory, while Mr Baker's school won a
science centre.
The GET category had nine finalists, while the FET category had five. The
judge's shortlisted four finalists for the award for retired teachers.
Enquiries:
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Cell: 082 550 3938
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 March 2007
