The heroes of education were celebrated this past weekend where one Masiphathisane educator was crowned the best in the Western Cape.
Eugenia Paulo-Goagoses and nine other educators were honoured at the Western Cape Teacher of the Year Awards on Friday.
Educators from the 10 districts competed in categories ranging from excellence in special needs teaching to excellence in teaching different subjects.
The top 10 teachers were part of 247 nominations for teaching awards this year. The districts, through cluster adjudication, nominated 47 cluster winners for adjudication for the provincial awards.
Paulo-Goagoses was the big winner for Excellence in Primary School teaching. According to Debbie Schäfer, provincial education minister, it is the educator’s willingness to adapt to a learners’ needs that set her apart. “She makes the learning experience a mutual learning and teaching experience so that struggling learners can remain part of it. Her learner-centred learning and teaching techniques as well as regular and timeous feedback to relevant stakeholders brings out the best in each and every learner in her class.”
Aside from her teaching duties she is also part of youth development through the Saldanha Bay municipality’s youth forum. Paulo-Goagoses even finds time to study law part time.
As part of the Wes-Boland eisteddfod management team she helped introduce isiXhosa poetry to the competition.
“We have various learners with learning challenges, so it is very important to remember each child is an individual and should be treated as such. My motto is to give each child the same education I would give my own children.”
Schäfer congratulated all the nominees for helping a nation realise its potential.
“While celebrating all of the teachers considered for these awards, we know that you represent the tip of the iceberg. We know that the vast majority of around 33 000 teachers out there are giving their best to serve the interests of every child in every classroom,” Schäfer said.
