MEC M. Qwase’s Remarks on the occasion of the

National Teaching Awards, 23^rd September 2008

Osner Hotel – East London

Members of the National Department of Education present

Members of the Provincial Departments

Members of Teacher Unions represented here

Special guests and invitees

Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for inviting me to deliver the keynote address at this wonderful occasion – where the department of Education honours, acknowledges and rewards the excellence of teachers where they have done outstanding work in the execution of their duties. It is therefore a privilege and pleasure for me to be part of this memorable occasion.

Our brochures explain the strategic objective of the awards as that of raising the public image of Education by focusing public attention on the positive aspects of the sector. Indeed occasions like this one indicate that we place education very high on the national agenda.

Your achievements today are a clear indication of the calibre of cadreship we would want to appreciate and retain in our service. Probably one of the biggest challenges we must confront is the transformation of the entire teaching workforce into committed, competent and professional educators in well managed schools.

We all know that teachers are the most important factor in the complex formula of the present and future well-being of our society. They carry the heavy responsibility of forging our future, and toiling with the most precious of all things we have, our children.

The challenges facing our education system today require the broadening of the notion of education beyond the traditional parameters of a school curriculum. Teachers are forced to supplement the education which children can no longer receive in dysfunctional families or in communities which are characterized by a breakdown in their social fibre. Under these conditions, teachers must learn how to exercise their leadership to teach discipline, self respect, human values and the important measure of civic education which must be imparted to all our citizens at the earliest possible age.

To go into a school and to work with young people, and particularly since we know so many of our children face challenges that were not part of our growing up, to be there, to know how to handle the intellectual, emotional and social needs that our children present to us, is the most difficult, but certainly one of the most rewarding ways anyone can contribute to society.

A new culture of teaching must then be matched with a new culture of learning where the importance of learning is understood not only by students, but also by their parents and their communities.

Together, we must form a partnership to encourage people to accept the value of discipline. Discipline cannot be foisted on people when it is rejected by large segments of our population. No teacher can deal with a classroom in which the majority of the students are problematic.

Programme Director, the main objectives of National Teaching Awards, as stated in the 2008 brochure are:

• To recognize and promote excellence in teaching profession
• To honour dedicated, creative and effective educators and schools
• To encourage best practice in schools
• To boost teacher morale
• To afford South Africans the opportunity to publicly say thank you to outstanding educators and schools

This therefore brings us to the realization that, indeed, in order to improve student achievement, we need to have good teachers, and good teaching is directly linked to continued professional development.

As all professionals are expected to have ongoing professional development, they are required to attend certain kinds of programmes and be tested periodically in order to advance in their profession. And now, all of us who care about education and educators in particular, know that this is exactly the model that we need to follow when it comes to preparing and maintaining the best educators in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, we need to value our teachers more and help them set and meet higher standards, not only for their students, but also for themselves. I hope that the successes that are being highlighted here will be spread throughout the province and that districts will learn from one another. One of our challenges in education, whether it comes to standards or professional development is to take what works in one district or school , translate and transplant it into another and offer technical assistance so that we can see how, with some modification perhaps, what worked in one of the award winners here today can work for others.

Indeed I feel very fortunate to be part of this development in the history of our profession where we are beginning to publicly recognize and honour teachers, for outstanding work in schools. I say this because teaching and teachers have not always been accorded such honours. In this process we are asked to ponder the question ‘What is the essence of good teaching’ and ‘What constitutes good teaching’. We continue to ponder this important question because:

• Teaching is an important re-enactment of one of the most basic of human relationships. It propagates the sharing and further development of the knowledge systems of societies and perpetuates the values inherent in human relationship and in the process inspires new generations of educators.
• The nature of good teaching is difficult to define and difficult to restrict to any a particular formula
• A second personal sense of the importance of good teaching comes from the realization that it is only through the example of mentors and role models that we have teachers of your calibre today
• Good teaching produces teachers not only in the narrow sense of cloning academics, but in the wider sense of sending forth leaders, care givers and educators of all kinds
• Put somewhat in more general terms, good teaching opens minds and creates aspirations.

And in my experience, one of the most important things to flow into an open mind is the desire to learn, which in turn leads to even larger, self motivating desires and aspirations.

Programme Director, it is increasingly becoming important for the department and teachers to work closer in a partnership that seeks to re-affirm the inalienable right of our children to quality education. Today is meant to celebrate excellence in education, and our hope is for that to reflect on our learner achievements at the end of the day.

Today your schools will be awarded a cash prize, to be able to support professional development activities and to help share the strategies and lessons that you have learned. And I would only ask one thing from those of you who are winners and all of you who have supported this process. We have to do a better job getting the word out. But if we have enough people like those of you gathered here, to spread the word about professional development, and to demonstrate how it works, I believe we can see a grass roots movement around the province, embracing professional development and using best practices.

The intentions of the National Teaching Awards programme will only be fully realized when all those involved in education take pride not only in owning the programme, but also seeing to it that schools participate in their numbers. District Directors, in particular, are at the forefront of this vision.

In order to determine our individual futures and that of our country, we must have the best teachers we possibly can have. We must have students who understand what it means to go into the new global economy, and we must have parents, citizens and political leaders who support all of you in the work that you do.

Programme Director, we are here today to celebrate good work and commitment. Let me therefore conclude by congratulating all those who were involved in this project:

• The adjudicators who have worked long and hard to identify the good teachers in our midst,
• Schools and Governing Bodies who have nominated their stars,
• Departmental officials at every level who have organized the district , cluster and provincial events,
• The Cluster Finalists, gathered here today, who have participated with such enthusiasm in this initiative. To them in particular, and to the profession as a whole, we say well done and keep up the good work, and most of all-
• The 2008 NTA Provincial finalists, whose names will be announced in a couple of minutes, the department is extremely proud of the excellent work that you have done in your districts , and particularly , in your classrooms. Your hard work and dedication is admirable and deserves praise. We wish you the best of luck in your forthcoming race with other provinces to become National Winners of the programme.

We once more wish to congratulate and honour all our finalists here today, not only for your dedication in your classes but also for your endless contribution to the country as a whole.

I trust that you will continue with your good work and that we will draw inspiration form your achievements. The prizes you receive today should be received with a sense of collective achievement. Your schools and colleagues are proud of you- as you smile they will smile with you.

Ngxatsho ke Mawethu ngokusibonisa umsebenzi omhle kangaka!!

Zenenjenjalo ke ukubafundisa nabanye ootitshala!!

I look forward to seeing all of you back here next here.

I thank you.