Mbombela principal wins primary school leadership award
Melusi Mamba said he wanted to lead by example by entering the provincial National Teaching Awards.
The principal of Klipspringer Primary School won the excellence award in primary school leadership during the recent provincial National Teaching Awards ceremony. Melusi Mamba outshone the rest in the province with his leadership skills and now he looks forward to the national leg of the competition in October.
This 32-year-old said he entered because he wanted to motivate the teachers in his school, so that they can understand the importance of excellence. He said as one of the youngest principals in Ehlanzeni, he wanted to make his mark.
ALSO READ: Women uplifted at Nkomazi mayor’s Round Table event
“I want to lead at the forefront, and I want to learn from other principals from other schools. I wanted the teachers to see that if I can do it, they can do it too. I also wanted to be able to expose the school to the public.”
Mamba told the newspaper that it was his first time entering the competition and he is happy that he won.
“It is a dream come true. It felt good when they announced my name as the winner. I used to see others win and this year I wanted to be part of those who participated.”
Mamba joined Klipspringer in 2021 and said it is great to see the school growing from strength to strength. “In the past years our pass rate has improved, and the school now has its own bus to transport the learners to various activities. The entrance gate to our school has also changed.”
He said the sports activities have improved, the learners are competing in various competitions and there is a diversity among the learners.
The provincial awards ceremony took place in the Kruger National Park on August 24. These awards are one of the ways in which the Department of Basic Education acknowledges the extraordinary efforts made by excellent teachers, often in very difficult conditions.
ALSO READ: Nsikazi senior citizen honoured for his community service
Speaking at the event, the education MEC, Cathy Dlamini, congratulated all the teachers. “Thank you very much for this opportunity to extend our accolades to the torchbearers for people’s emancipation – our teachers. Indeed, this platform provides us with an opportunity to honour those teachers who give their soul, mind and body to teach and transfer skills, knowledge and values to our learners. We are proud to be associated with the calibre of teachers who are resourceful, caring, loving and have the interest of our children and that of our communities at heart.”
