Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Principal scoops national award
ONE principal’s hard work was been recognised nationally this week after she was acknowledged at the National Teaching Awards hosted by the Department of Basic Education.
Renate van der Westhuizen, principal of Apex High, in Eerste River, took the award for secondary school leadership on Wednesday.
Van der Westhuizen had won the provincial award on September 3, making her the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) nomination for the national awards.
She is the founding principal of Apex High, a no-fee school in the WCED Collaboration Schools project.
“I feel incredibly humbled to receive this recognition. I am grateful to so many people who have invested in me, supported me, and developed me as a leader. This award belongs to the entire Apex community,” Van der Westhuizen said.
The National Teaching Awards is part of the Teacher Appreciation and Support Programme (TASP), which was launched by the minister of basic education in 2015. The aim of the TASP programme is to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate teacher excellence in diverse contexts. It was conceptualised in 2000 by the then-minister of education,
Kader Asmal.
Acorn Education is the collaboration partner of the school.
“Renate is the absolute personification of excellence in school leadership. She is a most deserving winner. It is an absolute privilege to be working with her and the Apex community – continuously raising the standards of what is possible in education,” said Acorn chief executive Jana du Plooy.
Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer congratulated each of the winners for their achievement.
“It is quite something for our province to have nine of our 14 nominees place in the top three nationally. We will celebrate them, and the contribution of all the committed teachers of the Western Cape, for the entire month of October,” said Schäfer.