Date: 09/03/2004

Click here to view the published article.

NELSPRUIT - A local teacher of Sophungane Combined School in the Nkomazi region, was the runner-up in the provincial trials of the Sowetan/Telkom Maths and Science Teacher of the Year Award.

Ms Lindiwe Mahlalela was the only teacher from the Lowveld who was a finalist and received her prize with great excitement and enthusiasm.

According to Ms Myra Dunley-Owen, provincial co-ordinator of the foundation, the aim of the award was to motivate and reward high school maths and science teachers and to identify those who had managed to inspire and produce good results in these subjects over the past 20 years.

The award was the idea of Dr Agrey Klaaste, editor of Sowetan , who had a vision to assist in repairing the damage inherited over the past 40 years. Telkom sponsored the programme for the fifth successive year and the Shuttleworth Foundation also recently came on board.

According to Dunley-Owen the foundation not only recognises teachers for their good work but will also provide support and practical tips to the benefit of the wider audience. They will update annually and print a resource book for teachers with a collection of lesson plans, ideas and motivational dps.

Finalists competing at provincial level this year had to compile a portfolio consisting of stipulated work, including lesson plans, teaching and assessment strategies and improvised resource materials relating to the requirements of the resource book.

Future plans for the Maths and Science Teacher of the Year award includes the implementation of a series of workshops by provincial winners. They intend to implement this in May. "The objective of these workshops will be to share experiences, provide support and discuss with one another methods of using the resource book," Dudley-Owen said.

According to Dr Henry van Zyl, director of Further Education and Training, maths and science are at the forefront of developed countries. "Without them there would be no bombs and no economic development," he said.