Accolades kept pouring in for the winners of the National Teaching Awards aimed at attracting young people to join the teaching profession. In their address during the NTAs, Basic Education Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga and Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule were impressed that President Cyril Ramaphosa prioritised the NTAs in his busy schedule to salute teachers. 

In her address, Minister Motshekga said that teachers are the vital cog in the nation’s endeavours to build a lasting democracy; fight disease and poverty; and reverse the current economic inertia. Through the NTAs, we honour men and women of fortitude, the trailblazers in teaching pedagogies and builders of the nation. “The NTAs pay homage to these men and women for their selfless dedication to the teaching profession. Our teachers are the bulwark against ignorance, poverty of the mind and sluggish economic growth,” added Minister Motshekga.

Deputy Minister Mhaule thanked the winners of the NTAs for their dedicated efforts in developing learners and instilling values of love and compassion in their learning journey. “I extend my gratitude to the Provincial Education Departments for having provided the required support to all the nominees of the NTAs.” Deputy Minister Mhaule further highlighted that Cabinet has adopted the revised Basic Education Policy on the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in schools. “The Policy seeks to ensure the accessible provision of information on pregnancy prevention, care, and counselling. It also provides for the upscaling of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as a crucial part of school curricula to safeguard learners’ rights to sexual and reproductive health. As a country, we must protect young girls from male predators to ensure that they stay in school until they complete the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations”.