The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is calling on all teachers in the sector to participate in the National Teaching Awards (NTA), which takes place later this year.
The NTA was established in 2000 to recognise, celebrate and acknowledge the strides made by teachers to ensure that learners are supported in order to progress from grade to grade. The awards now enter their 21st year of implementation.
This edition will be conducted in a period where the country is confronted with a major pandemic of Covid 19, which has paralysed the schooling system in many ways. The DBE intends to conduct the 21st edition’s activities in adherence to the protocols as prescribed by president Cyril Ramaphosa.
The competition is open to all teachers in the public school sector registered in terms of the South African Schools Act. In recent years the prizes have ranged from cash prizes to cars that are sponsored by the partners of the Department who have supported the initiative.
The NTAs are aimed at motivating teachers to continue the selfless endeavors they make for the benefit of the country.
The work of teachers have now been further complicated by the emergence of the coronavirus, which has disrupted the schooling sector in a manner never seen before.
The department has sought to improve the Teacher Appreciation and Support Programme by introducing other elements that are geared toward elevating the contribution of teachers in the education sector.
As a result of the extraordinary efforts made by teachers under extreme conditions, the department has therefore introduced new awards to pay homage to individuals who have demonstrated commitment, dedication, and sacrifice during crisis situations.
To this end new categories have been added and they are National Best Teacher Awards, S/Hero Award and the Learner Award. Other categories are Lifetime Achievement Award, National Learner Award, Excellence in Maths teaching, Grade R teaching, Special Needs, Primary school teaching, Secondary School Teaching, and so on.
For this edition the DBE wants to reach a broader audience of teachers and took a decision to adopt the characteristics of the Global Teacher Prize. As a result this edition has been tailored differently and the additional models has been infused.
The 21st edition of the NTA process will be conducted in the following recommended manner:
The process of nominating teachers will start at school level and then proceed to the districts. The same process will be repeated in the provinces until winners reach the final phase of the selection of winners by a national adjudication panel, and the final stage will be the celebration of teachers in a national ceremony that will be hosted by the Minister of Basic Education.
The entries close on Saturday 31 July.
All interested teachers are required to enter by obtaining a form via the Department’s website on www.education.gov.za.
