A local teacher walked away with provincial honours in the 2017 Woolworths Educational Programme and MySchool’s Teacher’s Day competition last week.
In celebration of World Teacher’s Day on Friday 5 October, the chain store announced that Dirkie Lamprecht, deputy principal of Hottentots-Holland High School, as the winner of the Western Cape high schools’ category.
The science teacher also placed third in the national competition.
Lamprecht, a teacher who is powerfully changing learners’ lives for the better every day, was entered into the annual competition by learner Keaton Arendse.
A total of 19 000 learners were inspired to enter their teachers into this year’s competition, a significant rise from the 13 000 entries received last year.
“This is testament to the fact that the country is rich in teachers who make a lasting difference in their schools and communities. Learners were asked to submit a 200-word motivation that highlighted their teacher’s superpowers and described how they had changed the learners’ lives,” a statement from Woolworths says.
“Across the thousands of entries received, it was evident that both high and primary school learners have a keen sense of what makes a great teacher, and they acknowledge the finest human qualities in their teachers – such as kindness, fairness, encouragement, inspiration, dedication, compassion, generosity, hard work and going the extra mile.”
In his motivation, Arendse highlighted Lamprecht’s devotion to her school, colleagues and learners. “She’s an incredible lady who does more than what is asked of her,” he said.
He further acknowledges and appreciated the long hours she works, her fine example of diligence and the sacrifices she makes.
“She’s a caring and humble individual who also helps underprivileged schools with practicals.
“She doesn’t mind putting her hand in her own pocket to aid practicals and demonstrations in her physical science class. In this classroom, she has inspired many to further their studies in the direction of physical science and chemistry.”
A professional with 39 years behind her, Lamprecht said this about her purpose as a teacher: “I love the interaction with the learners. I love teaching and trying new ways of helping my students. I am very optimistic and will start each day as if the difficulties of yesterday have completely passed.
“I never give up on learners and will always try to help in order for them to achieve.
“I am open-minded and I love to see how they grow in self-confidence.
“I am very proud of what my learners have achieved, irrespective of whether they were the top students or they have just passed. Our learners study further and achieve degrees even if they struggled at school.”
Lamprecht has won a R10 000 Woolworths gift card, R5 000 cash, a laptop and an all-expenses paid weekend getaway for two in Cape Town. For his role in nominating her, Arendse won a R5 000 Woolworths gift card and their school, Hottentots-Holland High was awarded a R10 000 cash prize.
“This is the seventh year of the competition and we are overwhelmed at the sheer volume of children’s heart-warming stories about their incredible teachers,” said Pieter Twine, general manager of Loyalty and MySchool.
“We congratulate Lamprecht and Keaton, and hope that by recognising this superhero teacher from Somerset West on a national platform, the competition will continue to inspire schools and communities across South Africa to deeply value the wonderful difference that a great teacher makes in the lives of many thousands of learners.”
