Mpumalanga teacher takes first place at national awards

A local teacher scooped first place at the national awards. Mandla Dhlamini was announced as the best in the category of Excellence in Technology – Enhanced Teaching and Learning in 2022 at the occasion of the National Teaching Awards at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on Thursday.

He won the same title during the provincial event of the National Teaching Awards in September, and this gave him the opportunity to represent Mpumalanga on the national platform.

Dhlamini is a results-oriented educator and is presently employed at Mapaleni Primary School in the Bohlabela District in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. He teaches technology and life orientation.

He worked as a facilitator at the Mkhuhlu Education Development Centre where he trained teachers and out-of-school youth from Mkhuhlu, Lehukwe and Marite circuits, in a variety of programmes centred on the integration of information and communications technology (ICT) and education.

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At that time, he was able to empower a large number of educators with the integration of ICT in education and acquired a strong ambition to become a professional teacher. Dhlamini said he was overwhelmed to have received this award, and would like to dedicate it to his learners and students.

“My award belongs to them, because they were part of the journey and preparation. They were part of the presentation, and without them it would not have been possible.”
He said his dream and plan was to raise awareness on integrating ICT learning for his learners, especially the ones from his area.

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“With this kind of learning, the learners do not have to be in class to learn, they can easily use their laptop or tablet wherever they are. One of the best parts of the process is that it promotes learner independence.”