By Kwanele Ntombela and Noluthando Dlamini
The annual KZN Provincial District Awards ceremony took centre stage to recognise excellence in education, where the outstanding accomplishments of educators, learners
and district-wide institutions were honoured.
The event took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban recently, bringing together community leaders, educators and government officials to commend the creative initiatives and exceptional work in education in the province.
Education officials, including the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, and the MEC of Education, Mrs Mbali Frazer, attended.
One of the awardees was Dr Nkosinathi Ngcobo, the provincial HOD for Education. He said: “I ensure that everyone is behind the vision of ensuring that our learners’ performance improves, that is why all these district directors and all the subject advisors were getting awards today because the vision starts with them.”
All districts did very well, but the rural districts excelled. Ngcobo noted that KwaZulu-Natal is largely a rural province, thus the top districts come from the most rural parts of the province, with uMkhanyakude District doing better than Pinetown and Umlazi districts.
Ms Welile Nzama was awarded the Best National Performer Award. She advised her colleagues that they need to consistently support the principals in their leadership positions and the actual teaching in the classrooms.
“These awards encourage especially those who are receiving the awards to become proud of themselves, meaning they will work hard to ensure that they will receive them again next year. This is the first of its kind, we have always been given the educators but not recognizing those behind the scenes so by these we are encouraging them, and we are guaranteed that the performance will be much better because they are now encouraged.” Said Mbali Frazer, the MEC of Education in KZN.
In her keynote address, Motshekga emphasized the awards’ significant influence on the education sector.
“When KZN succeeds the entire country succeeds because we have the biggest number of learners and one of the most hard-working provinces. Your improvement is very significant. You increased your Bachelor passes from 61 000 to 72 000.
“Even though it can be challenging for educators to work in certain schools due to inadequate facilities and packed classrooms, you make it possible to pass with good grades. It’s not easy, but you made it. Congratulations and keep on doing the great work,” she said.
The event’s principal sponsor emphasized their commitment to promoting innovation and excellence in education. Bongumusa Ngcobo, manager and financial advisor at Old Mutual said: “We are honoured to be a part of this important awards ceremony and we are proud to support an event that honors the hard work and dedication of educators and students.
“As Old Mutual, we want to (advance) any plans that basic education has because you are the future of this world, therefore, we want to say congratulations to everyone who will come at this stage and receive their token of appreciation,” he said.
