Nkasana Matlapu joined teaching as a temporary teacher 20 years ago, and on Wednesday she was crowned the overall winner at the National Teaching Awards (NTA) held in Kempton Park.
Matlapu, principal from SJ Van der Merwe Technical High School in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, was named Woolworth & MySchool Shero award winner at Emperor’s Palace, Kempton Park.
Matlapu, who became a deputy principal at 27 years old, has been a principal for seven years.
The department of basic education celebrated outstanding educators who under challenging circumstances remained committed to their craft and produced extraordinary outcomes.
There was rejoicing and jubilation as teachers from different provinces collected their awards.
Matlapu, 41, was nominated for going out of her way to assist learners during Covid-19.
“Online learning was not easy for learners because they could not afford data. I then asked the public to adopt a learner to help them with data. I also got the learners six smartphones so that they can be able to do their school work. It feels truly great to win this award as it was not easy to work during Covid-19,” she said.
Matlapu said her love for teaching started in high school as her teacher would often ask her to assist other learners with maths, something that she carried through to university.
Leuba Solana, 32, was announced as the winner in the category of Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. Solana, who teaches life sciences in grade 11 and 12 at Sefoloko Secondary School, could not hide his happiness.
“In the past 10 years I have been working hard to be recognised as a national winner because of my hard work. It was my mother who inspired me to be a teacher as she was also an educator and later a principal. Winning this award means a lot to me and I hope it will inspire my learners back at home,” he said.
Another big winner was 17-year-old Nhlakanipho Nkosi, a grade 12 pupil at Tlotlanang Combined School in Thaba Nchu, Free State.
“I am so overwhelmed by this award. I was nominated after I wrote a book titled The beginning and middle of it and have it published within six months. I wrote the book to vent out, it is about knowing who you are and that we are stronger together. People who read it were inspired after reading it and today it has earned me a national award,” she said.
Basic education minister Angie Motshekga said the awards pay homage to 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. In my view, that's what teachers are, but those who enter and go on to win the NTA awards go an extra mile searching for lamps left negligible under the tables and bring them forth to light the room up,” she said.
Motshekga thanked all the teachers for staying the course amid the binding constraints, including the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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