Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

The head of the Independent Electoral Commission, Brigalia Bam, has told public-school teachers to uphold the virtues of their profession.

Bam was speaking at the National Teaching Awards presentation ceremony in Pretoria at the weekend.

The awards honour outstanding teachers and encourage other teachers to aspire to the highest standards.

Beauty Ndovela, of Inthongasi Public Primary School, in KwaZulu-Natal, won the excellence award for inclusive education teaching, the adult basic education and training award and the lifetime achievement award.

The runners-up were Heleen Otto of St Paul's and Speerwing primary schools, in Western Cape, and Charles Mohlala, of Matibidi Primary School, in Mpumalanga.

Tinyiko Baloyi, of Rivoningo Primary School, in Limpopo, took first prize for excellence in adult basic education and training. Jackson Molaba, of Ivory Park Adult Centre in Gauteng, and Molly Lenkoe, of Maiteko Abet Centre in North West, were the runners-up.

The lifetime achievement award winners were Matshidiso Mashishi, of Thusanang School for Intellectually Impaired Learners in Limpopo, Richard Hayward, of IR Griffith Primary School in Gauteng and Tasneem Rajack, of Phoenix Heights Primary School, in KwaZulu-Natal.