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19 September 2008

Programme director
The head of Department (HOD) and Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) officials
Our educators and their families
Our business partners and other stakeholders
Ladies and gentlemen.

Good evening to you all on this beautiful summer night, a special night glittering with our 'stars' in the teaching profession. It is that time of the year when we celebrate excellence amongst our teacher corps through the national teaching awards.

It is an occasion when we sing praises and eulogies to these often unsung heroines and heroes who not only impart the much needed knowledge and skills but also act as vital role models that transmit societal values and attitudes to our children.

As William Edward Burghardt du Bois, the well known pioneer of Black Nationalism and Pan Africanism puts it, 'Children learn more from what you are than what you teach'. Coincidentally we are also celebrating October as World Teachers month.

The 5 October Teacher's day celebrations this year will have a number of highlights. We envisage that these celebrations will culminate in a grand occasion at a venue to be announced in due course. This day, celebrated worldwide, enables us the general public to reflect on the role of 'the mother of all professions'.

In this province we will encourage every member of society to identify a teacher who had the most influence in their life. We will then have to write a letter thanking this teacher.

Today's event marks the 9th celebration of the National Teaching Awards (NTA) that were introduced into the education calendar in 2000.

The objectives of the NTA amongst others are:
* to recognise and promote excellence in teaching performance
* honour dedicated, creative and effective teachers and to
* encourage best practice in schools.

These objectives of the NTA echo the principles and sentiments contained in the UNESCO's (United Nations Educational and Scientific Council) rallying call and slogan of 'Quality Teachers for Quality Education'.

To our top achieving educators of 2008, please continue to kindle imagination, inspire confidence, stimulate the mind and build the self esteem of your charges. You have been chosen as the best in your particular area of speciality and therefore should inspire your colleagues to reach similar heights of achievement.

You have triumphed over adversity in spite of the daunting challenges that face teachers today, problems such as mastering the content and methodology of our new curriculum, the National Curriculum Statements (NCS) dealing with 'difficult' children, working under trying and demotivating conditions, managing unco-operative colleagues and a myriad other challenges.

Continue to 'keep the doors of learning and culture open' for our young people who are entrusted to you. Teachers are the change agents that can mediate our beautiful, transformative education policies and legislation to ensure that quality education is delivered to our children. It is only through this social compact that we as the education department can contribute towards 'developing healthy, skilled and productive people' and maximise the development of our human capital.

I salute all our winners tonight. Do not rest on your laurels and be complacent, make the sure that you spread your influence of best practice so that you are here again next year.

I also salute and thank all those who have stood by you and supported you, your spouses, partners, colleagues, neighbours and all those who whispered words of encouragement during those sometimes difficult times in your career.

Issued by: Department of Education
19 September 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.education.gpg.gov.za)