District's teachers awarded for their outstanding performance

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Eden / Karoo district is boasting with a category winner and several runners-up in the provincial leg of the National Teaching Awards.

Ethon Leigh Alexander, the deputy principal at Fraaisig Primary School in Knysna and Grade 7 mathematics teacher, won the category for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (GET).

As the head of Learning and Teaching Support Material at the school, he oversees the procurement, distribution, and management of educational resources.

Alexander and 14 other provincial category winners will represent the province at the National Teaching Awards in October.

Four others from Knysna excelled in different categories: Constance Stuurman of Fraaiuitsig Primary School (first runner-up: Excellence in Primary Leadership); Zanette Terblanche of Concordia Primary School (second runner-up: Excellence in Primary School Teaching); Nomakhosazana Ngqambuza of Thembelisha Primary School for the National Best Teacher Award and Diane Kennedy of Knysna High School for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching.

George & Mossel Bay

In George Petro Maritz of Van Kervel Special School was awarded as second runner-up in the category for Excellence in Special Needs Leadership, and in Mossel Bay Leigh Meyer of Diaz Primary School was honoured as second runner-up for the category Excellence in Technology – Enhanced, Teaching and Learning.

Petro Maritz of Van Kervel School in George

Leigh Meyer of Diaz Primary School in Mossel Bay

The event took place last Saturday 24 August at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town Waterfront. Minister of Education in the Western Cape David Maynier hosted the event.

Maynier said these awards give the department the opportunity to celebrate the incredible work that teachers in our public schools do every day. “These teachers relentlessly pursue excellence, and their passion for improving learning outcomes is clear for all to see. It is wonderful to see how our teachers are making a lasting impact on the lives of learners in the Western Cape.”

He tanked all Western Cape teachers for their hard work over the past year and encouraged all residents to express their appreciation for the teachers who work so incredibly hard. “Our teachers are our most valuable asset, and we appreciate their love, care, and support for our children every single day!”

Zanette Terblanche of Concordia Primary School