Durban – Teacher, Corrine Hufkie, from St. Raphael's Special School in Durban was one of the winners of the national SHERO awards competition which highlights the immense difference that teachers can make in young lives.
The winners of the SHERO awards, which are hosted by Woolworths and MySchool, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, were announced on World Teacher’s Day on October 5.
Each year, the competition recognises hero teachers that have selflessly stepped up to shape the lives of pupils for the better.
Winners in five categories were chosen from 5 000 entries from across the country.
Hufkie won the Special Needs category and walked away with a laptop, R10 000 cash as well as R 5 000 cash for St. Raphael’s Special School.
She told “The Mercury” that the award is an honour and a dream come true.
“This is a dream come true. We take for granted the impact we have on shaping the lives of our students. So a very big thank you to MySchool for giving us the platform to share, shape and influence our students. This acknowledgement will definitely be one to remember,” she said.
She said she looks forward to going to work each day.
“I like to believe I am making a difference in the lives of my students everyday, no day is ever the same. There will always be challenges no matter what you do or where you work but it’s one of the reasons I look forward to stepping into class everyday,” she said.
Hufkie said what keeps her going is seeing the pupils’ faces in class, ready and willing to learn.
She advises student teachers or people wanting to get into the field not to give up.
“It’s a learning curve when you start – like any job you do, whether you are trying to enter an industry or whether you have been doing the job for years, there will be hiccups along the way,” she said.
According to Hufkie, understanding the importance of patience and empathy will help shape the educator journey.
“Be eager to put yourself in the shoes of your learners. This mindset can really take you far. Those, for me, are the fundamentals that differentiate you from a good teacher and great teacher,” she said.
During the awards ceremony, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga saluted all the finalists and congratulated all the winners.
“[The winners] went beyond their call of duty to ensure that teaching and learning continues for the sake of our children, our future leaders,” she said.
The Minister said teachers are the true embodiment of the triumph of the human spirit.
“Having faced significant strife at the worst times of Covid- 19, they not only showed commitment and dedication to teaching under those difficult, and at times, life-threatening circumstances, but also heeded Government’s call for them to persevere and do their best to preserve the gains made in Basic Education over the past few decades,” she said.
Pieter Twine, general manager of the Woolworths Making the Difference and MySchool programmes, said this is one of the biggest initiatives to involve South Africans in the global celebration of teachers.
“The Teachers Day SHERO Awards is an opportunity for South Africans to come together to recognise and reward their hero teachers – to put them in the national spotlight so that they are properly acknowledged for the way they touch the lives of children,” he said.
The other category winners:
- Foundation phase category winner: Judith Motsusi from Mafikeng Primary School in the North-West province
- The Intermediate phase category winner: Sherylee Vermaak from Robert Hicks Primary School in Pretoria
- The Senior phase category winner: JP Botha from Alexander Road High School in Port Elizabeth
- The Further Education and Training category winner: Celestine Stuurman from Hoërskool Mclachlan in Joubertina in the Eastern Cape