Liberty has pledged its support of the National Teacher Awards that honour teachers who are cultivating South Africa’s future leaders in classrooms all over the country. The awards, which were held last night at a gala dinner at Gallagher Estate in Midra
The National Teaching Awards are an opportunity for the Department of Basic Education to acknowledge and pay tribute to dedicated, committed and professional educators. At a time when the teaching profession is faced with various challenges, these awards help to highlight the true stories of teachers and schools who deliver excellence every day. Since the awards were launched in 2000, 109 teachers have been honoured. The prizes offered in previous years have gone a long way towards the upliftment of the teaching community and improving the standard of education in schools.
Liberty, which has a legacy of in supporting education initiatives which spans over 40 years, is one of the sponsors of this year’s awards. According to Ivan Mzimela, Liberty’s Group Executive for Group Strategic Services, “Teachers are often the unsung heroes of our education system. We recognise that behind every distinction achieved there is a teacher who dedicated themselves to ensuring that their students excelled.”
“Too often the focus is on the challenges facing our education system whilst the positive contribution that teachers are making every day is overlooked. It is for this reason that we are investing in initiatives which seek to advance the teaching profession in South Africa. We commend government on this initiative which recognises the tireless work done by teachers all over the country. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Department of Basic Education, as we work together towards the advancement of our education system,” said Mzimela.
According to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, “The purpose of the National Teaching Awards is to recognise excellence and outstanding contribution of teachers in enhancing the quality of teaching. The awards are a special incentive high on the Basic Education calendar. The support of companies such as Liberty, enables us to raise the public image of the teaching profession as well as recognise and promote excellence in teaching performance. As a Department we value partnerships hence we appreciate the involvement of Liberty in the NTA and their contribution towards other education initiatives.”
As part of its sponsorship Liberty will be providing some of the winning teachers and their schools with digital learning materials to facilitate the teaching process. This is in line with Liberty’s ongoing provision of curriculum-aligned content which empowers both students and teachers by providing them with the knowledge they need to reach their goals.
“Achieving excellence in teaching requires not only skill but an inherent passion for sharing knowledge. It is about bringing a subject to life for students and instilling in them a thirst for lifelong learning,” said Mzimela.
Liberty has also recognised that teachers not only play a vital role in schools but that they are also pillars in their communities. Their ability to teach extends beyond the classroom. In light of this, Liberty will be providing financial literacy training to teachers and members of their communities. It is Liberty’s belief that, by increasing the general level of basic financial education in communities, better financial decisions will be made.
“Our CSI mandate is shaped around the wider socio-economic needs reflected in South Africa’s national development agenda and the critical need that exists in this area. We are of the view that the sharing of knowledge through traditional education initiatives and financial literacy programmes is fundamental to achieving our development goals as a nation. By working together with Government, we will be able to contribute to building a thriving knowledge economy, something that is vital for our collective future. This will light the way to financial prosperity for generations of South Africans and Africans. Through ongoing partnerships in this arena, Liberty aims to make a meaningful difference to communities and the country as a whole,” concludes Mzimela.
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