Basic Education Minister and Deputy Minister,

MECs,

Parents and teachers,

Teacher unions,

Business and community partners

Adjudicators

Members of the international community,

Fellow South Africans,

We have come together once again, to celebrate excellence in teaching and education in our country.

We place a high premium on education in this country, which makes the National Teaching Awards very important.

In the 2009 State of the Nation Address, I laid out the

non-negotiables in education. I said that all should be in school, in class, on time, teaching and learning for at least seven hours a day.

I am convinced that the teachers who excel in their work succeed because they implement these core principles.

Education is a ladder out of poverty for many of our children who come from poor households.

We rely on our teachers to assist learners to use education to uplift themselves, to fulfil their dreams and achieve their full potential, for the benefit of the country.

It is also our strong view that poverty must not prevent South African children from gaining an education.

In this regard, we have instituted several measures.

More than 8 million children from poor households are exempted from paying school fees. About nine million children receive free meals at schools, many of whom come from homes where parents have no money to prepare lunch boxes for them.

Government pays R15 a day per child to subsidise children up to the age of 4 years from poor households, who attend crèches or early childhood development centres.

The numbers of children in Grade R classes have more than doubled in the past five years and are now at around eight hundred thousand (800 000). We are now making plans to make Grade R compulsory, so that we prepare a solid foundation for our children.

We know that our teachers and learners need a suitable environment to work in. One of the key priorities since 2011 has been to replace mud schools with modern schools.

To date more than 370 new schools have been built by government and this major infrastructure development programme continues.

Since we invest so much in education, we are happy that there are teachers like the ones being honoured this evening, who meet us halfway by working hard.

In this way, we will succeed in building the prosperous South Africa that is envisaged in the National Development Plan.

I am happy Minister, that we have included maths and science amongst the categories.

We have to improve the performance of our children in these two subjects which are vital for the country’s economic development and growth.

Compatriots and friends,

Education is a societal issue and requires all sectors and communities to work together.

We fully support the important and much-needed National Education Collaboration Framework under the leadership of Mr Sizwe Nxasana, which was launched in July 2013.

This important initiative brings together business, trade unions, civil society and government, united by the common goal of building a brighter future for our children and for our country.

Let me also thank the companies that have invested in education through building state of the art schools for our children.

Other companies provide much needed equipment and resources such as science laboratories, libraries or even school uniforms and learning materials.

I have had the honour of opening some of the multimillion rand schools built by the private sector in the Eastern Cape.

This is a good story of collaboration to move South Africa forward.

Let me also thank the international donor community, for supporting the education of our children.

Ladies and gentlemen

Last year I announced that we would establish a commission to look into the working conditions of public servants.

I added that teachers would be prioritised in the exercise.

I have appointed the former Chief Justice of the Republic, Honourable Justice Sandile Ngcobo, to undertake this important task, and wish him and his team well as they continue with this important national duty.

Let me once again congratulate all the winners today.

We also acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all the finalists and those who were nominated.

You have all given us a good story to tell. Our country has a bright future because there are teachers like you, who turn schools in productive centres of learning and achievement.

You are laying a strong foundation for economic growth and prosperity in our country.

Compatriots

Let us continue to work together to move our country forward.

I thank you.