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Two more stars for finals

TOPS: Science teacher Makgena Mokola with Grade 12 pupils at Eqinisweni Secondary School. Picture: Katherine Muick. 13/3/03. © ST.
TOPS: Science teacher Makgena Mokola with Grade 12 pupils at Eqinisweni Secondary School. Picture: Katherine Muick. 13/3/03. © ST.

Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Two more teachers have qualified for the finals of the Aggrey Klaaste Mathematics, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Awards in Johannesburg on March 22.

They are Magda Viljoen and Thembi Mashaba of Mpumalanga.

Further education and training (FET) teacher Viljoen and general education and training Mashaba join the Northern Cape's further education and training teacher Malanka Motlhloioa, general education and training mentor Maria Mokoena and retired tutor Agnes Moadira.

Provincial education MEC Siphosezwe Masango lauded Viljoen and Mashaba and wished them well for the finals, to be judged by a panel headed by University of the Witwatersrand maths Professor Mamokgethi Setati.

"Thanks must go to the visionary leadership of the late Sowetan editor-in-chief Aggrey Klaaste who initiated the newspaper's nation building campaign, including this award, organised and sponsored in partnership with the Telkom Foundation," Masango said.

"This selfless partnership contributes immensely to the education, training and development of the nation, particularly our children in the maths, science and technology fields.

"With South Africa's ever- increasing participation in the international arena, the country needs more skilled people and a thorough knowledge of maths, science and technology remains a top priority to help the country compete globally."

Education superintendent general Ray Tywakadi said he believed that the 11 finalists were winners because it was a worthy validation of their talent, dedication, creativity and passion for teaching.

The judges said Viljoen, Mashaba, Moadira, Motlhoioa and Mokoena possessed most of the key qualities:

l A love for maths, science or technology;

l A willingness to explore new ideas to improve teaching;

l An admirable ability to encourage and inspire pupils to become independent, critical and analytical mathematicians, scientists and technologists;

l A proven track record in producing good results;

l And exemplary leadership and respectability among members of their communities.

Provincial practising teachers who top the FET section in the provincial finals receive a personal computer, R5000, a certificate of recognition, a computer laboratory for their school, as well as automatically qualifying for the national finals.

Provincial practising teachers in the GET receive a personal computer, R5000, a certificate of recognition, a science kit for their school, and qualify for the national finals.

The provincial retired teacher receives R5000, a certificate of recognition, and automatically qualifies for the national finals

The national practising teacher in the FET section receives a science kit for their school, and the national practising winner in the GET section receives a computer centre for their school. T he national retired category winner is given a computer centre for a school of choice.

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