She's top of the class

For the third time in ten years Charnelle Arendse from Belgravia and departmental head in the intermediate phase at Belmor Primary School in Hanover Park received a ministerial award for teaching on Monday 6 October.

- AVRIL FILLIES

In October 2022 she came second nationally for excellence in Primary School Teaching and was honoured with her picture on a billboard as one entered Hanover Park.

“This award is a reflection of all the excellent educators and also the management at Belmor Primary School amidst a kaleidoscope of social issues in Hanover Park. It serves as a reminder of how we raise the ordinary to extraordinary with innovation in our endeavour to deliver quality education for every learner,” she says.

“I feel bountifully blessed and I cannot articulate just how grateful I am to God, firstly for making it all possible. I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been awarded the Ministerial Award at the National Teaching Awards 2025.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube MP, for introducing this absolutely priceless award that invites, embraces and celebrates the voice of learners across the country at the National Teaching Awards. This recognition would not have been possible without the moving and beautiful nomination from my learner, Jade Amos. I am eternally grateful!” she says.

Her journey with the National Teaching Awards actually started in 2015 when she won provincially for Excellence in Primary School Teaching and represented the Western Cape nationally. Then in 2022 she was a National Runner-up for Excellence in Primary School Teaching as well.