KNYSNA NEWS - Eight teachers at local schools that have partnered with the Knysna Initiative for Learning and Teaching (KILT) were named as the winners of awards in the Eden and Central Karoo District, in the first round of national teaching awards run by the Department of Basic Education.
In the second round of the awards, on 22 July, the local award-winners, except for those who named as runners-up, competed against the winners of the awards in the seven other provincial education districts.
On 23 August, in Cape Town, the provincial winners of the awards will be announced, and they will go on to compete against the award-winners in the other provinces in the finals in Gauteng in September.
"We are thrilled to announce that several KILT-partner schools and teachers have emerged as district winners," Robyn Steinlechner, a member of KILT's marketing team, and its social media lead, said.
"What is special about the work we do at KILT, is that it is a locally-driven network of support that takes an holistic approach to education.
"Not only do we work with 13 500 children, we work with their families, teachers, principals - we look at the education system as a whole," Steinlechner said.
Roche Witbooi, left, and Zanette Terblanche of Concordia Primary School.
Award-winner Zanette Terblanche of Concordia Primary School thanked KILT for its support.
"I want to thank you for investing in us …we are seeing the results, the teachers in Knysna are excellent and this is why we did so well.
"I must commend KILT for everything you do for us and our schools," Terblanche said.
KILT was established in 2017 "to help build an empowered community through education," KILT says.
"When Gill Marcus (former Deputy Minister of Finance and governor of the Reserve Bank) retired to Knysna in 2016, local principals approached her and asked for help with problems in their schools.
"The principals identified the most pressing needs an education partner could address and suggested potential solutions.
Nomakhosazana Ngqambuza of Thembelitsha Primary School.
"KILT arose from that discussion, and Gill (who chairs KILT board meetings) registered it as a non-profit organisation in April 2017. In 2023 KILT became a Non-Profit Company (NPC). KILT began by paying for additional teachers and auxiliary staff to reduce large class sizes immediately by lowering the teacher-to-learner ratio.
"Very soon, we developed tailored reading programmes and remedial support for children. We also created projects to support teachers and principals and provide psycho-social support plus extracurricular activities and projects that address aspects of school safety.
"Slowly and systematically, KILT expanded its support, including addressing ablution hygiene and school safety.
"In order to ensure the KILT objective that 'each child, irrespective of race, gender or financial resources, has a solid education foundation through addressing the whole system' it is essential to address the nutritional shortfalls of learners in addition to their psycho-social and/or remedial needs.
"A hungry child will not flourish. KILT has set up an emergency fund to assist where it is able."
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