GEORGE NEWS - Thembekile Cosmore Bango, the principal of Thembalethu Primary School, will represent the Western Cape at the National Teaching Awards (NTA) in Pretoria later this month.
At the 17th annual Provincial Teaching Awards Ceremony in Cape Town last Friday 3 November, Western Cape MEC for Education Debbie Schäfer presented the top teachers in the province with their awards in 10 different categories.
Bango scooped the award for Excellence in Primary School Leadership.
"I have learnt that one must delegate duties and responsibilities to one's subordinates," Bango told the George Herald. "You can't do everything yourself; the more people that become involved, the more can be achieved.
The ability and interest of the teacher is paramount when decisions are made, but it is even more important to support the teachers by furnishing them with sufficient information so that they can make informed judgements, for example when facing a crisis situation in the classroom."
About the many challenges facing his school Bango said, "You must have a sense of humour and try to be humble instead of being bossy - people will warm to your ideas and assist in finding solutions to what may be perceived to be impossible.
"I also practise an open door policy." Bango's award is made special by the fact that his own learners nominated him.
Learners were asked by Schäfer in August to identify outstanding educators who make a big difference in their schools and communities.
Suggestions had to be made through various forms of media, both visual and written.
ARTICLE & PHOTO: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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