Top SACE award for Ivypark’s principal
Laerskool Ivypark principal Willem Opperman said he didn't expect the award but appreciates the acknowledgement.
POLOKWANE- The principal of Laerskool Ivypark, Willem Opperman was recently bestowed with a provincial South African Council of Educators (Sace) award for his work in research on educational matters, including educational workshops and training sessions.
“The South African Council of Educators expects teachers to develop and to grow in their profession so that our learners can benefit. I didn’t expect the award, but I appreciate the acknowledgement from SACE and I am glad that I’m doing my part as a principal,” he said of this achievement.
Mologadi Thema, SACE provincial coordinator, said Opperman accumulated 1 127 points in the cycle of 2020-2022 and received a gold certificate and a gift as this feat puts him among the top five achievers in Limpopo.
SACE is a professional council for teachers in South Africa. Teachers in the country register with the council upon completing their studies, and receive a practice number.
“We set standards on how teachers have to conduct themselves and on how they have to be developed,” Thema explained.
The development of teachers is managed through a cyclical system called Continuing Professional Teachers Development (CPTD), through which teachers participate in various activities including meetings, workshops, reading, projects and other forms of development through which they earn points.
In a three-year cycle, they have to accumulate a minimum of 150 points. Accumulating more, Sace rewards them with a certificate of achievement, Thema added.
