Local educator and Principal of Pula Madibogo Primary School, Phuti Ragophala found herself in select company when she attended the Celebrating Excellence Organisations (CEO) Global’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards held at Johannesburg last Tuesday. Ragophala teaches Economics and Management Sciences to Grade 7 learners and utilises the Project Learning approach, a method which she has also instilled in her colleagues and the rest of the learners.
“Project-based learning is a teaching approach that engages students in sustained, collaborative real-world investigations. Projects are organised around a driving question and students participate in a variety of tasks that seek to meaningfully address this question. The project is more about putting theory in practise by using resources from the computer. The children love the new method and I think it is the way to go,” Ragophala explained.
Her fellow finalists in the Education and Training: Academic category were leading academics Elizabeth Amukugo and Yvonne Dausab from Namibia as well as fellow South Africans Hellen Manakedi Ntlatleng, Tebello Nyokong and Sarah Susanna Visser. Dausab was named the country winner and Nyokong the regional winner in the South Africa and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“It was good to be nominated amongst the best educators and professors in the African Continent. It is always good to be recognised for the work we do. This award will give me courage to continue with Information Technology and the Project Learning approach which is gladly welcomed by our learners,” Ragophala said.
Another Limpopo resident, Serobi Maja, Chief Executive Officer of Limpopo Gambling Board was a finalist in the category for Agencies and Regulatory Authorities.
Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela was named Regional Winner: South Africa and SADC South in the category for government employed officials.
Entrepreneur and property developer Richard Maponya was announced to be the Regional Winner: South Africa and SADC South in the Wholesale and Retail category.
Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za
