“The National Teaching Awards remains paramount in the departmental calendar as it provides us with an opportunity to appreciate all our teachers. We also congratulate all schools and teachers who have entered the National Teaching Awards since its conception in 2000.

“We would further like to acknowledge their extraordinary efforts, which have often been achieved under very difficult conditions and in service to our children, most of whom come from poor backgrounds.

“There’s a saying that goes, not all heroes wear capes, and every time I hear this saying we are reminded of teachers who give their all inside and outside the classroom. “We are reminded of teachers who go as far as to sacrifice their time, even on weekends, so that learners can be empowered with knowledge and skills for survival. Teachers are truly nation builders and pillars of growth and development. We are here celebrate and honour all those dedicated teachers who have chosen to take positive action towards building our society. To all the finalists, we wish you all the best, you are all winners,” she said.

Sombre as the moment might present itself currently, the recognition and honouring of teachers’ excellence and dedication cannot go unnoticed or allowed to evaporate into thin air. Speaking at this occasion, MEC Bonakele Majuba paid homage to teachers.

“We know for the fact that a teacher occupies and serves multiple roles in society henceforth there is a need to show appreciation to them continually. “It is therefore incumbent upon us to pledge our utmost and unwavering support to them. “They are practically in a social service paradigm – an inflection on how as advantaged strata of society, we should strive to ensure that those in the lower rung and disadvantaged are served with humility. “As we celebrate this occasion, our hearts and sympathy go out to all those members of this fraternity as the conduit of life fell as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and they could not see the fruits of their labour in learner progression and achievement.

“We shall forever remain indebted for their contribution, dedication and sacrifice. They will always remain in our souls and memories for the impact they have made on education. “We are encouraged to indicate that all teachers who were in excess have been duly placed. We will push on to look at the plight of all temporary teachers with the intention to secure their permanent status within the system. “It pains us to learn that there are teachers who for the past five years have been serving the department on a temporary basis. We will address this as a matter of utmost urgency. “While we celebrate the outstanding work from most of our teachers, we need to use this platform to condemn those who render a disservice to our people.

“These are those who bunk classes, do not attend class as expected, who always cause disputes in schools, use corporal punishment and those who sexually abuse learners. “We need to be bold in condemning such behaviour and work with all structures of our society to work those out of the system. “We will continue to work with the South African Council for Educators to address impediments resulting from misconduct from some of our teachers.

“I therefore would like to take this opportunity to urge all teachers to strive for excellence in their esteemed calling. “We congratulate all teachers who participated in the programme at all levels and those who made it this far. “Equally, we congratulate those who will represent our province on a national level, hopefully some of you will make a mark on the global stage. “We are proud of your achievements,” Majuba said.

The event was supported by Liberty, MTN, Old Mutual and Vodacom.

Over 22 000 grade 12s attend school camps

22 241 grade 12 learners are expected to attend spring vacation classes and camps scheduled for five days throughout the province from October 4 to 8. The 2021 spring vacation classes are going to take place in 120 centres targeting all the 194 schools that performed below 70% in the 2020 National Senior Certificate Examination, including repeating and progressed learners.

These classes intend to offer learners an opportunity to do well on the targeted 11 highly enrolled subjects, which are mathematics, mathematical literacy, physical science, life sciences, economics, accounting, business studies, history, geography, agricultural science and English first additional language.

Each learner must register for not more than three subjects. Learners will be provided with nutrition and scholar transport. Teachers and centre managers will be remunerated for their participation as per approved PAM tariff.

A centre manager must be a principal or a deputy principal of a school that has achieved 70% and above in the grade 12 NSC results in the last three consecutive years (2018, 2019 and 2020). The department has set aside R28 251 896 towards learner nutrition, transport for learners and teachers as well as for the compensation of teachers involved in the programme.

The MEC for education, Bonakele Majuba, views these spring classes as the final push before the final NSC examinations which will commence on October 27.

“We wish to urge our learners to take advantage of this opportunity which will help a great deal to close the knowledge gap, content recovery and to prepare learners for the final examinations. “I also request parents and members of the community in general to encourage these learners and to create a favourable environment towards the success of these classes,” said MEC Majuba.

The MEC will visit Emakhazeni Boarding School in Emakhazeni Local Municipality and Morgenzon Centre in the Lekwa Local Municipality to monitor progress. The National Senior Certificate Examination will start on October 27.

MEC Majuba salutes teachers everywhere

I, along with billions worldwide, appreciate the significant role teachers play in the development of learners and society as a whole. October 5 is World Teachers’ Day. It is a day for the international community to pay homage to and to appreciate the selfless contributions made by teachers.

They often go the extra mile in the quest to empower learners collectively and as individuals to free society from ignorance and hopelessness. They also encourage self-worth. Their selfless, diligent and patriotic efforts were largely displayed during the difficult period of the Covid-19 pandemic. They soldiered on during very challenging circumstances and for that and many other acts of goodwill, we salute and appreciate all our teachers.

The 2021 World Teachers’ Day is held under the theme “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future”. On behalf of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our teachers for the sterling work they do on a daily basis, delivering lessons that empower our nation with knowledge, skills, attitude and values.

Teachers form the integral part of nation building as this profession is the mother of all professions. As society we owe a great deal of gratitude to our teachers who have taught us to read and write as well as instil in us values of responsibility, love and care, above the core teachings in the different learning areas of the school curriculum.

As a department, we continue to work towards the improvement of the working conditions of our teachers to enable them to focus on their core responsibility of teaching. In this financial year, the department will translate about 3 100 temporary educators to permanent status.

The department is also at work with the translation of grade R practitioners to educators as and when they receive their educator qualifications. We will continue to work hand in glove with teacher unions and other stakeholders to create conditions that are more favourable for teachers within Mpumalanga.

We also make a clarion call to all members of our society to provide support to all our teachers. Let us honour them by being grateful and appreciative at all times.

I also wish to invite young people within the province to consider taking up teaching as a profession. This will help to inject new blood within the profession and will spell good fortune for the future. We salute all our heroes and heroines who serve our nation selflessly by imparting valuable, lifelong knowledge and skills.

Happy Teachers’ Day.