Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube and Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule, hosted the National Education Excellence Awards (NEEAs), to honour the excellent performance demonstrated by education districts and schools across all nine provinces. The Awards ceremony, held under the theme, recognising excellence in education, took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in the Gauteng Province on 29 August 2025. Ms Tinyiko Nkuzana, District Director for Capricorn South District in the Limpopo Province, walked away with prizes for the Special Ministerial Award during the NEEAs, including a trophy, certificates, Television sets, and credenza drawers. Cape Winelands Education District from the Western Cape Province and Tshwane South Education District from the Gauteng Province emerged as dominant winners of the awards in several categories of NEEAs.

The NEEAs were designed to recognise excellence across districts through various categories including Top Performing District, consisting of districts that achieved the highest bachelor passes from 2022 – 2024; Highest % passes in Accounting, Mathematics and Physical Science as well as comparison between Performance and Participation in Accounting, Mathematics and Physical Science among others. Pixley KaSeme, Frances Baard and Bohlabela districts were recognised as the Most Improved District considering achievement in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) from 2023-2024. The three districts had been supported through the mentorship programme. Other categories which did not consider NSC achievement included Excellence in District Leadership and Management; Excellence in Support for Improving Primary Schools Learning Outcomes; Top Performing Full-Service School; Upkeep and Maintenance of School Facilities: Primary and Secondary Schools; and the Special Ministerial Award. Other school categories included Top performing Public Schools from Quintile 1 to 5; Highest Improved Full Service Schools amoung others.

Deputy Minister Mhaule congratulated all the nominees and winners for their outstanding achievements. “You have shown that with passion, hard work and commitment, quality education can be delivered to every South African child regardless of their background. You are the champions who inspire hope, uplift communities, and shape our nation’s future,” remarked Deputy Minister Mhaule.

Addressing the delegates during the NEEAs, Minister Gwarube said that the District Directors have kept the system steady in difficult circumstances. “When provincial finances came under immense pressure, when budgets were trimmed, when resources grew scarce, you held the fort. You ensured that schools remained open, teachers remained supported, and learners continued to learn. For this, I want to thank every District Director, every principal, and every teacher represented here today,” remarked Minister Gwarube. She also reminded the district directors about the commitment of the Basic Education Sector towards the institutionalisation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in schooling communities. “We have embarked on a Bana Pele ECD Mass Registration Drive. I joined registration clinics in four of our provinces, where we brought thousands of ECD centres into the fold to assist them with formal registration. We are aware that there are still challenges that require our intervention in promoting excellence in the ECD environment. We need to navigate bottlenecks with municipalities; tackle infrastructure shortfalls that prevent compliance; and streamline administrative processes to make it easier for ECD practitioners to register.  But together, I believe we have laid the foundation for a future where every child can access quality ECD. BELA has made Grade R a compulsory part of the Foundation Phase with effect from 24 December 2024. For too long, Grade R has been treated as optional. However, we continue to call for appropriate funding for Grade R and this is a call we will make on every platform that we get. Excellence must become part of the DNA of our education system. It must live in every classroom, in every district office, in every policy decision. And it must be sustained not only by the Department and Provincial Education Departments, but by communities, parents, sponsors, and partners,” highlighted Minister Gwarube.