Red carpet for region's educators and learners

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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The prestigious Eden and Central Karoo Education District (Ecked) awards ceremony took place last Thursday, 17 February, at the Oubaai Hotel near Herold's Bay.

This year educators and other role players of the region had all the reason to celebrate their success, since the Ecked has secured a second place out of eight districts with an 84,3% pass rate average, and was recognised as the top performing rural district in the province. Nationally, the Ecked earned the 10th position out of 52 districts.

"Such a momentous occasion was not only celebrated for the first since the pandemic, but it was also the first event of this magnitude in the history of Ecked!" So said programme director of the event, Malcolm Damons (Ecked assessment and examination coordinator).

The main aim of the event is to acknowledge and celebrate the Class of 2021 for achieving excellent academic results in terms of individual learner performance at provincial and district level.

Photo gallery: ECKED AWARDS CEREMONY: Red carpet for region's educators and learners

"Supported and encouraged by their educators, principals, parents and district officials, these matriculants demonstrated tenacity, resilience and commitment in achieving outstanding results amid the Covid-19 pandemic," said Damons.

"This event was also the ideal platform to thank our high school principals and their Grade 12 educators as the giants under whose leadership greatness unfolded in 2021. Amid unprecedented times, they 'had to lead where there was no path, and left a trail'. Selflessness personified."

The guest speakers included district director Jewel Jonkers, Prof Quinton Johnson (Jada Foundation), District Mayor Memory Booysen and George Deputy Mayor Raybin Figland.

York High head boy Ludolph Pedro (left), District Mayor Memory Booysen and Sam Leggatt, also of York High. The two learners gave piano performances at the event. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Collective celebration

Damons said the geographical outlay of the district is vast, therefore the district management and leadership team in the past went on roadshows to different towns (Beaufort West, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Riversdale, Mossel Bay and George) to address and acknowledge learners and principals for their exceptional performance.

"But for the first time, the celebration of the Class of 2021 took on a different format in that all high schools collectively celebrated this special moment in all its glamour," he said.

Class of 2021

Asked what he would remember thinking back on the class of 2021, Damons said he sensed a golden thread in the powerful speeches from various guest speakers across a broad spectrum - that together we rise.

"We share the ideology that education is indeed a communal endeavour, and it is vital that the different stakeholders play their part in the promotion and celebration thereof. As principals, educators, district officials, parents, community leaders, learners, we must continue working together to make 2022 an even more resounding success. Why? We do it as part of nation building.

"As a collective we are inspired by Nelson Mandela: 'Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor; that a son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine; that a child of a farm worker can become the president of a nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another'."

Parents of the district's top three students receive their special awards from Bernadine Probart (left) of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa). The top three students are Lucia Pauw of Point High School in first place (represented by her dad Christiaan Pauw on the right), Nicolas Geldenhuys of Outeniqua High School in second place (represented by his mom Annette Clark, second from left) and David Yon of York High School in third place (represented by his dad Clinton Yon, third from left).