18 September 2006
A 100% pass rate in Physical Science for the past five years in an African,
rural school in an impoverished community. This was the citation for Ms Nombeko
Ngubeni of the Percy Mdala Secondary School in Knysna, who was one of several
teachers honoured by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) on Friday
evening in Cape Town.
Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore applauded her and other
recipients of the Provincial Teachers Awards, thanking them for the remarkable
way in which they are devoting their lives to children and going out of their
way to find ways both to serve and to challenge.
This annual awards ceremony is intended to acknowledge and reward the
efforts of teachers in the Western Cape, and they will now go through to
another round of adjudications with their provincial counterparts in the rest
of the country, to contest for national honours.
The award winners were:
* Mr Nkosinathi Mkonto, Chuma Primary School in Khayelitsha, for excellence in
primary school teaching
* Ms Nombeko Ngubeni, Percy Mdala High School in Knysna for excellence in
secondary school teaching
* Mesdames Abrona Barends, Marilyn Pamplin, and Charmaine Jacobs from the Alpha
School for Learners with Autism in Woodstock, for excellence in early childhood
development
* Ms Maria Otto from the St Paul's Primary School in Faure, for excellence in
Inclusive Education and Special Needs Training
* Mr Hendrick Brand from the Karookop Primary School in Piketberg, for
excellence in Primary School Leadership
* Mr Henry Alexander from the Bernadino Heights Secondary School in
Kraaifontein for excellence in Secondary School Leadership
* Ms Muriel Kroukamp from the Riviersonderend Community Learning Centre in
Riviersonderend, for excellence in Adult Basic Education and Training
* Mr Cornelius de Jager from the Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch who
received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
MEC Dugmore said these teachers are "dealing daily with young minds and
fragile egos, being measured all the time against the clock, against the
curriculum, against the stream of demands coming from all directions makes
being a teacher surely one of the most exhausting professions.
"In a classroom, the teacher is contending with the complex and distractible
minds of around 40 other people when maybe only a handful of them are actually
interested in what's happening in the classroom at that moment. Our children's
lives are full of ordeals and challenges like peer-pressure, drugs, poverty and
violence.
"The teacher somehow has to orchestrate everything, all the different
backgrounds, the different paces and learning needs, the changing curriculum,
the demands of administration and record-keeping. In the mix also are the
learners' crucial needs to play and socialise."
With regards to the challenges of literacy and numeracy, MEC Dugmore said he
recognised the fact that teacher development is central to the success of this
strategy.
Besides teacher development, he outlined several steps the department has
taken to improve the conditions of service of teachers. These steps, MEC
Dugmore said shows that teaching is "not only the noblest profession, but also
one where efforts are being made to retain teachers in the service."
"Teachers, as in any profession, are required to ensure their ongoing
professional development. I am pleased to say that the teachers of the Western
Cape are demonstrating this commitment in a big way," said MEC Dugmore.
Recipients of the various categories
Excellence in primary school teaching
Mr Nkosinathi Mkonto, Chuma Primary School in Khayelitsha
Mr Nkosinathi Manuel Mkonto is a passionate, dedicated and well-organised
teacher. He has a broad knowledge of languages and is also an expert in
curriculum development. He was appointed as a lead teacher during the 2006
National Curriculum Statement (NCS), GET training. His dedication and positive
attitude, despite many challenges, has resulted in his becoming a leader in his
school and community. Mr Mkonto was appointed as a cluster co-ordinator for
eight schools because of his expertise. He organises and chairs the cluster
meetings, arranges workshops and provides guidance in the development of
programmes on Xhosa. At school level he has assisted his colleagues to develop
learning programmes and introduced new teaching methods. As a Post Level 1
teacher, Mr Mkonto represents the hope of education, a beacon of light for the
young generation of South Africa.
Excellence in secondary school teaching
Ms Nombeko Ngubeni, Percy Mdala High School, Knysna
Ms Ngubeni is a physical science teacher at Percy Mdala Secondary School in
Knysna. A very dedicated educator, who sacrifices even Saturdays for extra
classes in Mathematics and Science for her learners. She has already received
an award from Telkom for Maths and Science Teaching. She makes use of
computerised teaching methods in her classroom, and inspires her learners
continuously to prepare themselves to address the critical skills gaps in
society. For the past five years she had a 100% matric pass rate in her
subject. She forms networks with science experts in the community, and invites
them in on a regular basis, as well as with science educators from surrounding
schools.
Excellence in early childhood development
Mesdames Abrona Barends, Marilyn Pamplin, and Charmaine Jacobs, Alpha School
for Learners with Autism, Woodstock
The highly specialised field of autism, which we ordinary citizens know so
little about, demands dedication and compassion. This is evident in the work of
this committed team where the holistic development of each child is of utmost
importance. Together with the parents as partners, the team strive to develop
each child to reach his or her full potential by employing creative and
innovative teaching methods to address the triad of impairment of learners on
the autistic spectrum, namely communication and language, social interaction,
and behaviour and imagination. The teachers have to make constant changes and
modify their teaching strategies to suit the needs of each individual child. At
Alpha School the motto is "We stand together". This is evident throughout the
school and its community.
Excellence in inclusive education and special needs teaching
Ms Maria Otto, St Paul's Primary School, Faure
Ms Otto is a very dedicated and results-orientated learning support teacher.
Her main objective is to teach and educate children in an environment conducive
to learning. She therefore becomes involved in all aspects of the children's
lives, at school and after school. She inspires other teachers with her energy
and drive. After assessing all the learners in the schools, she has developed
an intervention strategy for Literacy. As a result of this intervention the
Literacy rate of St Paul's has improved from 0% to 27,8%. Ms Otto follows a
holistic and integrated approach to learning and teaching, but at the same time
recognise individual needs and differences. The school is a perfect example of
the implementation of inclusive education, where learners with special needs,
especially those with foetal alcohol syndrome, are included in all the classes.
Mariaâs motto is "If you can dream it, you can also do it".
Excellence in primary school leadership
Mr Hendrick Brand, Karookop Primary School, Piketberg
Mr Hendrik Brand is a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who
strives for excellence in his profession. The school is situated in a very
isolated and disadvantaged area, but the children are encouraged not to become
victims of their situation. He encourages them to rise above their
circumstances by arranging opportunities to enhance their life experiences, for
example, excursions to Cape Town (visits to the Baxter Theatre, Table Mountain)
and the surrounding areas. Despite the many challenges, he has a positive
attitude and makes a difference in the lives of the children and the community.
He strongly believes in creating opportunities for his disadvantaged learners
by employing class assistants from this very isolated community. Mr Brand has
also initiated a Grade R class to assist in preparing children for formal
schooling. This award is in recognition of Mr Brandâs dedication and the future
of Karookop.
Excellence in secondary school leadership
Mr Henry Alexander, Bernadino Heights Secondary School, Kraaifontein
Mr Alexander started his teaching career in 1972 in Calvinia. He obtained
all of his qualifications (BA Hons, BEd, MPhil, HDE) through part-time studies.
He started teaching at Bernadino Heights in 1989 and was appointed as principal
in 1993. The school is situated in an area characterised by crime and violence
and has been burgled and vandalised regularly. Through his leadership these
negative influences were channelled and changed to a more positive and
disciplined culture where effective learning and teaching could take place. The
matriculants have consistently performed at a pass rate of 92% and higher over
the past ten years. The school has received various certificates in this
regard, most improved school award (2000), Merit award (1999), Commendation
certificate (1999, 2000, 2001). The staff views him as a transparent, visionary
leader who has a participatory leadership style and constantly encourages and
motivates staff and learners.
Excellence in adult basic education and training
Ms Muriel Kroukamp, Riviersonderend Community Learning Centre,
Riviersonderend
Ms Kroukamp started her teaching career in 1994 at Riviersonderend Literacy
Projects, a project of the Riviersonderend Advice Office. She has initiated a
number of projects to ensure that literacy levels of adults have been raised.
Ms Kroukamp has been a recipient of a number of awards, e.g. outstanding
educator in 2002 and the Centre manager prestige Award in 2001 and 2003. The
centre gas also received an award for the best centre for matric results in
2001. Ms Kroukamp provides positive and clear leadership and the centre has six
satellite centres in other towns. Ms Kroukamp has fostered a number of
partnerships with private companies and organisations.
Lifetime achievement award
Mr Cornelius de Jager, Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Mr De Jager started his teaching career in 1971 at Durbanville High School
He taught Mathematics for 22 years and served as examiner for Mathematics in
1985 to 1986, and 1990 to 1995. The Paul Roos Multi-functional Centre 2001 was
officially opened by former President Nelson Mandela, and Mr De Jager
personally collected R1 000 000.00 for the centre. Mr De Jager was a pioneer in
introducing soccer and biathle water polo as school sports. He was responsible
for the introduction of additional Mathematics, Domestic Science, Technical
Drawings, French, Italian, Mandarin and isiXhosa Second Language as subjects.
Under his leadership the school has grown and educators are given the
opportunity to develop themselves so that the learners may benefit.
Enquiries: Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
18 May 2006
