WESTERN Cape teachers working in neighbourhoods plagued by crime and poverty who are making a difference, were honoured at the Western Cape National Teachers Awards.
The ceremony, held on Friday, celebrated teachers in the province and their contribution to teaching excellence across 13 categories.
Premier Alan Winde and MEC for Education David Maynier were among officials who attended the event.
Award winner Memory Dizha came first for excellence in teaching mathematics in the general education training phase.
Dizha is a senior phase mathematics teacher and subject head at Manzomthombo Secondary School in Mfuleni.
She holds a post-graduate diploma in Space Science offered by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) through a bursary from the United Nations. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education.
Dizha not only mentors teachers from neighbouring schools but is involved in feeding schemes, plants trees and is an avid HIV/Aids activists.
She encouraged her learners to develop abilities to solve maths problems and apply the skills they learn to the world around them as they learn.
Manzomthombo’s principal, John Matiso, scooped up the school’s second award for the excellence in secondary school leadership category. As a no-fee school with more than 1 700 learners from poor households, the school has maintained a pass rate of more than 90% since 2014.
Matiso was hailed for preparing learners for the fourth industrial revolution by introducing robotics and coding at the school and is WCED’s pilot school for the blended learning approach.
He also created partnerships with the University of the Western Cape, the South African Medical and Education Foundation, Engen Math, Petroleum Agency South Africa, among others, to help improve and build on the school’s existing infrastructure to enhance learning.
“I’m over the moon, thankful for the support from educators, parents and the learners. For the school to produce good results is because of the co-operation from everyone in the schooling community,” Matiso told the Weekend Argus.
“I am thankful to be able to lead the school’s community. This is a recognition of the work we have been doing as a team. For about 10 years, the school has been producing good, quality results. In the last three to six months, we received R1.3 million from PASA who have funded our information technology programmes.
“What makes me proud of this community is that parents send their children to school every Saturday. We are the only school that has compulsory attendance on Saturday for Grade 8, 11, and 12. And we have a 90% attendance weekly, even on holidays.”
Matiso said his school has become sought-after for placement because of their work, a challenge he is up for as he is committed to seeing his learners go from Grade 8 to 12.
“We have a high retention rate as well, our Grade 8 class accepts 320 learners and this year we have 308 of them in Grade 12. That speaks to our commitment to seeing our children remain in school and thrive.”
Charnelle Hector, a Grade 7 teacher from Belmor Primary in Hanover Park, won the award for excellence in primary school teaching.
Hector is known for encouraging reading and education as an escape from the harrowing realities and overwhelming social challenges of Hanover Park.
“Teachers are in the life-changing and life-saving business and therefore should create opportunities for learners to grow. I grew up on the colourful Cape Flats and my story, like the narrative of my students, is like an onion; multi-layered and full of flavour,” she said.
Hector uses a variety of tools to help keep her learners engaged, including TikTok and Kahoot, a game-based learning platform.
“I use TikTok as a teaching aid and integrate it with whatever theme I have for a lesson that week. It is a great tool for life orientation or creative arts but sometimes it is just for fun and for the learners to enjoy themselves.
“I do this with the parents’ full consent and I look at what is trending and use that to challenge my learners. Recently I had a boy in my class who participated in a challenge and it got 260 000 views and 12 000 likes,” Hector said.
“They say teaching is a walk in the park, in my case it is Hanover Park. I teach a potpourri of students from all walks of life, different races, religions, cultures and language and I love it.
“Teaching is not for the faint-hearted, you need grit, guts, grace and the firm belief that you can change the world.”
Yolanda Luphondo from Siviwe School of Skills in Gugulethu was awarded the excellence in special needs leadership award, a new category at this year’s awards.
A registered psychologist, Lupondo went into teaching with the aim of making a difference.
