The African Union (AU) hosted its 2023 Continental Teacher Award Ceremony and webinar under the theme: “Investing in Our Teacher: Professional Standards and Competencies, Working Conditions and Teacher Education” on 5 October 2023, to coincide with World Teachers Day. The theme for the 2023 edition is: “Transforming Education Starts with Teachers”.
The African Union Teacher Award Prize has been established as a means for demonstrating respect for teachers and the teaching profession by means of encouraging and celebrating committed teachers in Africa. The Award is aimed at enhancing the visibility and status of the teacher in Africa; the promotion of teaching as a profession at all levels; and to celebrate and encourage outstanding teachers. The DBE has been participating in the Awards since 2019. In previous editions, Dr Livhalani Sinyosi and Mrs Agnes Rasesemola were announced as first prize winners. The Award Ceremony took place on World Teacher Day to honour teachers on the African continent and to enhance the professionalism of, and support for teachers. The AU invited Member States to each nominate two teachers for the 2023 Continental Teacher Award Ceremony.
The DBE nominated Ms Vasiliki Viki Mpompolas from the Northern Cape and Mr Mandla Dhlamini from the Mpumalanga Provinces, who are previous winners of the National Teaching Awards (NTAs). Nominees from about 61 countries underwent an adjudication process by a panel of education experts and stakeholders in Africa. Ms Mpompolas was amongst the eight regional winners of the 2023 African Union Continental Teacher Award announced during a virtual ceremony on 05 October 2023. The winners will receive a certificate of recognition and USD10,000 each.
Teaching for Ms Mpompolas is not a job, but a lifestyle as it inspires change which pervades your life. She started her teaching career 11 years ago at the Kimberly Technical High School and believe that learners teach you more than you can teach them. She advised in her presentation, “take it one breath at a time and do not let the bad days overshadow the good, and remember why you started in the first place. Very few people have the opportunity to touch so many lives in their lifetime. When you go home, unwind and assess your day. You can almost always recall a moment in the day when one of your learners came up to you and gave you a hug, or a sweet, or a I love you.”
One of the winners, Ms Rosemary Onyancha from Kenya expressed her appreciation on behalf of the winners. “This Award contributes to teacher development and empowerment in Africa, and a suggestion is for an exchange programme to be initiated for the winners from Member States to share best practice”.
HE Mr Roland Kobia, EU Delegation to the AUC, said that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the structural challenges and emphasised the importance of a resilient and adaptive education system which should be able to harness modern and technological tools to overcome challenges. The time to act is today. Education is one of the best tools for conflict resolution, peace and prosperity”.
Dr Quentin Wodon, Director, UNESCO-IICBA presented key findings from the Report: Investing in Our Teacher: Professional Standards and Competencies, Working Conditions and Teacher Education – The Case of West Africa, with emphasis on pre- and in-service teacher education and the training, professional standards and competencies for teachers throughout their careers; and the importance of teacher working conditions and teacher wellbeing, and subsequently, the importance of the best teacher awards.
Ms Sophia Ashipala, Head of the Education Division, Education of Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), appealed for more Member States from Africa to participate in next year’s AU Continental Teacher Award to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to empower Africa to compete in the global arena.