01 Dec Teachers of Mpumalanga, you inspire us
“I don’t look the time to knock off, I look the work!” It is statements like these, delivered with such emphasis by Foundation Phase teacher Joyce Khoza that validate the efforts around teacher development in Mpumalanga. Joyce joined the Penreach Teacher Development programme in 2006. She was one of the winners at the 2016 Penreach Awards, an event that celebrates the achievement s of teachers and ECD practitioners in the Lowveld region of the province.
More than a thousand people gathered at Penryn College on Saturday in great anticipation to hear who would be crowned winners at this year’s ceremony. This year approximately 1 200 teachers from disadvantaged pre-school, primary and high schools attended the Penreach in-service teacher development workshops over the course of 7 Saturdays in a year.
With the theme, Teachers Who Inspire, these exceptional teachers who, despite difficult circumstances, continue to strive for educational excellence for all children, were rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
It was however, Selina Joyce Khoza who stole the limelight as she was crowned Teacher of the Year. In the Early Childhood Development category Jane Sibitane was awarded with the title ECD practitioner of the Year. Both these ladies impressed with their neat, detailed and well-structured work plans and were applauded for their professionalism and subject content knowledge.
Somcuba Primary School received the School of the Year award, whilst Lovolwethu Pre-school was named ECD Centre of the year.
Winners in 4 catergories for 2016:
Looking at pro-active maintenance of the school or ECD centre infrastructure, a high standard of safety adn cleanliness. good recordkeeping and up to date developmental and academic progress reports for every child, the following schools and ECD Centres came ou tops in 2016:
ECD Centre of the Year:
- Luvolwethu Pre-school in Elandshoek
- Khula Khula Pre-school in Msholozi
- Mihlurhi Edu-Care Centre in Daantjie
School of the Year:
- Somcuba Primary School
- Vukasame Primary School
- Maqamela Primary School
Neat and detailed work plans, good classroom set-up and management, use of learning support materials and overal professionalism were the hallmarks of our finalists in the Teacher and ECD Practitioner of the Year categories.
ECD Practitioner of the Year:
- Jane Sibatane
- Thuli Mathe
- Jabu Mkhatswa
Teacher of the Year:
- Joyce Khoza
- Rose Mwamba
- Carol Mashaba
Guest speaker, Lovelyn Nwadeyi along with Penreach Partners, who included organisations such as Sappi, Manganese Metal Company (MMC) Transnet and Halls, congratulated the winners and applauded Penreach who are constantly taking action to measurably and irreversibly change the lives of the people of South Africa. Penreach would like to thank all their partners, including the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development for their continued support and partnership over the last few years.
It was also the first introduction of Mr Jacques Celliers, CEO of FNB and the incoming chair of the Penryn Trust to the teachers and practitioners that form the heart and soul of Penreach.
See more photos here:
What makes a winning school?
See why Somcuba Primary School emerged as the winner in School of the Year category on our Penreach channel on youtube.
This kind of dedication to educational excellence must be recognised – when Somcuba did not win in 2015, principal, Mr Mandla Nkosi took his whole staff component to the winning school “so that we could see and learn where we needed to make improvements,” he says. This paid of in 2016.
Meet our Teachers Who Inspire!
CALLING ALL TEACHERS
Penreach will host and Open Day on 21 January 2017 from 08h00 to 13h00 at Penryn College. Come and see the subject choices on offer for the 2017 Teacher Development Workshops; meet facilitators and buy exceptional resources. Enquiries: Kitty Nkumba 013 758 9000 or knkumba@penryn.co.za
