Nkomazi teacher is second in competition
The Teacher of the Year campaign is able to reach more people with a positive message about teachers by celebrating them as heroes in the community and as inspiration to South Africa's children.
MBOMBELA – A primary school teacher of the province made it to the top three in this year’s Most Amazing Teacher of the Year Awards, courtesy of Pep stores.
Ms Phandile Mbatha of Mjejane Primary School in Kwalugedlane in the Nkomazi District Municipality came second in the competition and was awarded with R10 000 cash, while the learner who nominated her, Nozwelo Ngwenya, received R5 000 in Pep gift vouchers and her school a “library-in-a-box”.
Mbatha and the other winners and learners who nominated them appeared on etv on December 12 from 10:30 and 11:20.
The overall winner was Limpopo’s Ms Mologadi Priscilla Maluleke of Leubaneng Primary School in the Waterberg district.
She won the top prize of a R15 000 in cash, the pupil who nominated her, Trevor Chauke, won R5 000 in Pep gift vouchers and their school was awarded a Pep Academy and a “library-in-a-box” containing 50 books.
“Maluleke stands out for her amazing ability to not only teach but also to care for orphans and vulnerable children at the same time. Working from a small sparse room with minimal supplies, she manages to work with different grades each afternoon and even helps some learners with polishing their shoes and ironing their shirts.
“She is a remarkable teacher who is doing something above and beyond her teaching tasks – and it is this that makes her a truly amazing educator,” said Ms Lana Martins of Wired Communications.
The third-place winner hailed from KwaZulu-Natal’s Intumbane Primary School, Ms Bongekile Shabalala, who was awarded with a R5 000 cash prize while her nominating learner, Sanele Mnguni, also received R5 000 in Pep gift vouchers and the school also won a “library-in-a-box”.
The competition was launched earlier this year when Pep and etv requested the country’s primary school learners to show appreciation for their favourite teacher by entering him or her for awards.
A total of 10 nominees were selected in August before the top three were recently announced.
Through the competition, Pep demonstrates its support for education in South Africa, its partnership with etv and its “heroes” campaign.
The Teacher of the Year campaign is able to reach more people with a positive message about teachers by celebrating them as heroes in the community and as inspiration to South Africa’s children.
It forms part of Pep’s flagship corporate social investment programme which is focused on primary school learners and gives them extra literacy and numeracy tuition to help them become better pupils and enjoy more success in their learning and future lives.
