The Free State Department of Education hosted the National Teaching Awards (NTA) at the Bon Hotel in Bloemfontein on Friday (16/8). Teachers were recognised for their dedication and commitment to the profession.

The 24th National Teaching Awards celebrated the theme: Empowering Educators, Strengthening Resilience, Building Sustainability.

Approximately 250 individuals, including teachers, SGB members, senior government officials, teachers' unions, and private sector partners, gathered at the Bon Hotel to honour their colleagues.

Former University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, was the guest speaker for the evening. Free State Education MEC, Dr Julia Maboya, delivered a congratulatory message to the award recipients.

The categories were:

1. Excellence in Primary School Teaching

2. Excellence in Secondary School Teaching

3. Excellence in Primary School Leadership

4. Excellence in Secondary School Leadership

5. Excellence in Special Needs Teaching

6. Excellence in Special Needs Leadership

7. Excellence in Grade R Teaching

8. Excellence in Teaching Physical Science

9. Excellence in Teaching Natural Science (GET)

10. Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (GET)

11. Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (FET)

12. Excellence in Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning

13. Best Teacher Award

14. Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement Award

15. Excellence in Teaching Accounting

16. Excellence in Teaching Agricultural Subjects

“Today was an important day for us because we were recognising the good work done by our teachers in the province,” said Dr Julia Maboya, MEC for Education in the Free State.

She says the event shows that the teachers are being cared for and this means there is room for development. “We are investing in our teachers and motivating them to work harder.”

She says the awards are more than just getting the prize, it is about inspiring teachers and taking the teachers and department to the next level.

“It is amazing to see so many excellent teachers in the system. We might change the slogan to ‘simply excellent’ because they are more than ‘simply the best’,” said Maboya.

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