BESTE INNIE WESTE

WESTERN Cape teachers have done it again at the National Education Excellence Awards.

Education MEC David Maynier said the province swept the Top Performing Public Ordinary School in Quintile 5 category.

The awards took place on Friday at the Sandton Convention Centre, and recognised the outstanding achievement of quality teaching and learning indicators.

Hoёr Meisieskool Bloemhof (Cape Winelands) was awarded first place for the second year running, an outstanding achievement for principal Maré Bosch and the team.

Rhenish Girls’ High School (Cape Winelands) took second place, moving up from third place in the same category last year, while Rustenburg Girls’ High School (Metro Central) was ranked third.

Maynier said: “Congratulations to these top three schools who are demonstrating consistent quality education, having all appeared in the category in previous years.

“Vredendal Noord Primêre School (West Coast) was awarded first place in the category Upkeep and Maintenance of School Facilities: Primary Schools, while Bridgton Secondary School (Eden and Central Karoo) won the Upkeep and Maintenance of School Facilities: Secondary Schools category.”

Maynier said there was even more good news for their education districts, showcasing achievement in Mathematics and Science with the following categories: 

For Highest NSC Mathematics Passes 60% and above 2022 – 2024: 1st – Cape Winelands.

Additional awards included:

Top Performing District serving up to 400 schools: third– Metro Central;

Excellence in District Leadership and Management: first– Metro North; and

Excellence in Support for Improving Primary Schools Learning Outcomes: second– Metro Central.

Maynier added: “We have no idea how they managed to carry all of these awards home on the plane.

“Congratulations to our top performing district directors Noel Petersen (Cape Winelands), Brenda Robertson (Metro Central), Jewel Jonkers (Eden and Central Karoo), and Wendy Horn (Metro North), and well done to our district teams for the outstanding support they provide to our learners.

“Thank you to all of our officials and school staff who work under extreme pressure every single day to deliver on our vision of quality education for every child, in every classroom, in every school in the Western Cape.”

Meanwhile, Maynier said there would be no further cuts to provincial teaching posts, following the loss of 2 407 jobs going into the current academic year.

The MEC confidently announced they are now able to provide for 35 934 posts, and that schools will receive their individual staff establishments for 2026.

He added: “This follows consultations with teachers’ unions and School Governing Body (SGB) associations regarding the total number of teaching posts for the 2026 school year."