By Johnathan Paoli
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for “bold ambition” in South Africa’s schools, urging districts, teachers and communities to strengthen the foundations of learning while tackling persistent challenges of infrastructure, safety and literacy.
Speaking during the 11th edition of the National Education Excellence Awards on Friday, Gwarube placed the spotlight on early childhood development, foundations of learning and the resilience of districts that have sustained performance despite immense challenges.
“Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. You inspire us, and you remind us of what is possible when we are bold in our ambition, when we work collaboratively and when we strive for excellence,” the minister said.
The awards, held under the theme “Recognising Excellence in Education”, celebrated the dedication of district officials, principals, teachers and learners across all nine provinces.
Gwarube hailed the past year as a defining one for her department, noting that reforms such as the Bana Pele Early Childhood Development (ECD) registration drive and the compulsory introduction of Grade R from December were laying the groundwork for long-term change.
“I have personally witnessed the pride of practitioners who, for the first time, feel recognised as part of the system. This is not easy work, but together we have laid the foundation for a future where every child can access quality ECD,” she said.
The minister warned, however, that the system still faced significant challenges.
Uneven school infrastructure, lingering pit latrine toilets and violence in schools continue to undermine progress.
She urged district directors to accelerate the roll-out of the Safer Schools Protocol with the South African Police Service, ensuring that every school has a functional safety committee.
The minister also reaffirmed her belief that excellence must be woven into the “DNA of the education system”, driven by communities, parents, partners and the government.
Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule emphasised respect for teachers, warning that bullying and societal neglect were undermining their contribution.
“Every teacher who wakes up and goes to class is a winner. Families, I call upon you – let’s teach our children respect. Education is a collective responsibility,” she said.
Chief director for planning and support, James Ndele, reflected on the 11-year journey of the awards, noting how they had expanded from purely academic metrics to recognise innovation, sport, inclusivity and school maintenance.
“The education sector is a rising tide, excellence is not static; every year the bar is raised,” he remarked.
Acting director of district coordination, monitoring and support, Khanyi Mantshongo, mentioned new categories focusing on participation in gateway subjects such as mathematics, physical science and accounting, which were aimed at aligning education with economic needs.
The highlight of the event was the recognition of top-performing schools and districts across multiple categories.
In the category of Top Performing Public Secondary Schools, excellence was recognised across quintiles, ensuring fair comparison between schools of different resource levels.
In Quintile 1, Macingwane Secondary School claimed first place for the second consecutive year, followed by Ntsizwa Senior Secondary and Nomafu High.
Quintile 2 was led by Ngopoleng Bakone Secondary, with Guduza Secondary and Ubulinga Secondary in second and third place respectively.
In Quintile 3, Menzi High School took top honours ahead of Velabahleke High and Emhlwaneni High.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium led Quintile 4, with Hoërskool Middelburg and Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High as runners-up.
Finally, in Quintile 5, Bloemhof High secured first place, followed by Rhenish Girls’ High and Rustenburg Girls’ High.
Beyond academics, the Excellence in Full-Service Schools and Facilities category honoured institutions fostering inclusive, supportive and well-maintained environments.
Alpha Primary School was named the top-performing full-service school, with Toe Vlug and Discovery Full-Service Schools following.
For primary school facilities, Vredendaal Noord Primary topped the list, with Sekutupu Primary and Sipheni Primary recognised for their upkeep.
In secondary school facilities, Bridgeton Secondary led the way, followed by Osborne Secondary and Indala High.
At district level, awards celebrated leadership and improvement in NSC results.
Johannesburg West Education District emerged as a consistent leader, topping categories for overall performance and highest pass rates, with Tshwane South and Metro Central close behind.
Ugu Education District took first place in quality indicators among large districts, while Pixley-ka-Seme was named the most improved.
For Bachelor passes, Tshwane South, Johannesburg West and Johannesburg North secured the top three positions.
Gwarube urged every district to embrace ambition, saying they must not only catch up with international standards, but to set them.
The minister called for a renewed sense of pride and responsibility among educators, district leaders and communities, reminding them that despite immense challenges, excellence remained both achievable and contagious.
INSIDE EDUCATION
