The efforts of the country’s finest educators were recognised at a glittering awards ceremony in Boksburg on Thursday evening 6 March.

The National Teaching Awards paid due tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to moulding and inspiring the nation’s young minds and future leaders.

Among those acknowledged by President Jacob Zuma himself was West Rand School Principal Marthinus Coetzee who scooped up the life-time achievement award.

It was not the first time this well-known Krugersdorp principal was recognised for the work he has been doing among disabled pupils for the past 33 years, but this award certainly was among the biggest.

Since he first took over the reins at the school in 1981, Coetzee has made a large impact on the lives of the teachers and pupils. His approach towards education for disabled pupils hasn’t ceased to draw nation-wide admiration since.

President Jacob Zuma used the occasion to call on the private sector to continue building stronger partnerships with government to improve education.

“Education is a societal issue and requires communities to work together,” he said.

He described education as a ladder that children could use to pull themselves out of poverty.

For that reason, he said no child should be denied access to education because of their circumstances at home.

The President said government would continue to invest heavily in education.

“No nation can succeed without education. Those who invest in education are making a good investment,” he said.

President Zuma thanked private sector companies that are involved in building schools, and replacing mud and inappropriate structures with state-of-the-art buildings.

To date, more than 370 schools have been built through the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative programme.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga hailed the strides made in education over the past 20 years. She saluted the educators who have shown unwavering commitment to their work.

“These are the men and women of our beloved Republic who have distinguished themselves by finishing the race ahead of their peers.

“We recognise and honour our dedicated and caring teachers for their efforts to turn each pupil into a leader of the future, into a true role-player in the local and global economy and into an assertive nation-builder, with the capacity to create jobs for others and develop other young people,” she said.