25 years of empowering educators, strengthening resilience, building sustainability

Honouring selfless and dedicated teachers who give their time and energy to shape South Africa's future.

- By Thabo Mohlala

Teachers, provincial education ministers, senior government officials, education specialists, and teacher unions, recently converged at the Birchwoord Hotel & O.R. Tambo Conference Centre to celebrate the National Teaching Awards (NTA) in its Silver Jubilee year.

Honouring committed teachers

The event took place in the same month that the Department of Basic Education(DBE) observed the National Teacher Appreciation Month. Conceptualised in the early 2000 by the then minister of education, Professor Kader Asmal, the awards aim to honour selfless and dedicated teachers. The awards have undergone changes since their inception and now offer more categories.

Critical platform for the Department of Basic Education

Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi, welcomed the guests and introduced the minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube, who delivered the keynote address. In her address, minister Gwarube said the 25th NTAs are a critical platform through which the DBE pays “tribute to the men and women who daily give their time, energy and love to shaping South Africa's future”. She said teachers always held the line despite the challenges they face on daily basis to ensure they keep the classroom alive.

Building a literate and numerate generation