Two innovative Teachers head for global stage

Two South African teachers, one from Limpopo and one from KwaZulu Natal, will soon be jetting off to the global Microsoft Innovative Teachers’ Forum Awards in Helsinki, after taking the honors at the annual Innovative Teachers Forum Awards, announced in Johannesburg last week. The awards, which are presented by Microsoft South Africa in partnership with the Department of Education, recognise innovative practices in the classroom and help drive the increased use of technology to aid effective teaching and learning. The winners are Victor Ngobeni and Kumaras Pillay. Victor teaches at Rotterdam Secondary School in Rotterdam Village, in the Mopani district of Limpopo. He is the deputy principal of the school and besides performing managerial duties, he also teaches Geography for Grades 11 and 12. Kumaras teaches Mathematics and Technology at Burnwood Secondary School in Durban. Ngobeni qualified for his teachers’ diploma at the former Giyani College of Education in 1993. He specialized in Geography and English. The two will now join hundreds teachers from across the world at the Global Innovative Teachers Forum Awards in Helsinki, Finland, later this month. It is the second year that the Innovative Teachers Awards are awarded. It aims to aid digital inclusion and overcome the fact that not every school and every country has easy, affordable access to this technology. They also provide the necessary framework for teachers and learners to acquire the skills they need to make the best use of technology in teaching and learning. The judging criteria for the awards focus on the innovative practice of teaching methods and not necessarily only the innovative use of technology. The criterion whereby teachers are measured is the impact the teaching method has on learners. The judges are chosen from various education fields, including provincial and government departments as well as lecturers from tertiary education institutions. “These awards are one of the pillars of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Programme,” said Ashley de Klerk, Public Sector Director of Microsoft South Africa. “Through the awards, we can help our teachers to share their innovative best-of- class practices and over the long term empower our learners with the necessary skills they need to enter the knowledge economy.” “Educating our youth is the cornerstone to sustainable growth of our economy and active citizenship. We encourage and welcome innovative teaching practices that inspire and encourage our teachers and ultimately benefit our learners,” said Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Enver Surty. Microsoft’s commitment to education is showcased through the Microsoft Partners in Learning Programme. “We believe that South Africans should have the opportunity to realize their full potential in the classroom,” said De Klerk.