Winners of the African EduWeek Awards announced

CliffCentral’s Gareth Cliff, Zimasa Velaphi (marketing manager Collect a can) – winner of Environment Award, Mr South Africa 2014, Armand du Plessis and Louise van Loggerenberg, director of Ambittech, gold sponsor at African EduWeek

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One on One Community Based Programmes, the SpellAfrica Initiative from Nigeria and technology company Edit Microsystems are just some of the winners announced at the inaugural African EduWeek Awards at a glamorous gala dinner at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday night. The awards showcased the most innovative and life-changing projects, organisations, companies, teachers and education professionals who have been responsible for pioneering new frontiers, pushing boundaries, for inspiring others and for achieving growth in education in Africa.

Broadcast stalwart and CliffCentral.com founder Gareth Cliff hosted the awards dinner while renowned educator and technologist Graham Brown-Martin and the humanoid robot Nao made a surprise appearance.

The theme of this year's African EduWeek is 'Enter a world of educational knowledge', and has gathered more than 3,500 teachers and education professionals this week. The event ended on Thursday, 2 July.

Complete list of the winners and what our judges said:

Supplier of the Year 2015, Basic Education:
Winner: One On One Community Based Programmes, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Excellent programme which has a clear focus on improving access to quality education in STEM subjects and improving outcomes for disadvantaged learners".
  
• "Love the inclusion of training with provision of the science kits. Excellent testimonials."

After receiving the award, the chairman and executive director of the One on One Community Based Programmes, Doc Sethole, said: "we are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community, change lives and hopefully the continent".

Supplier of the Year 2015, Higher Education:
Winner: TSiBA Education NPC, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Love the model of volunteers and mentors. So needed in the higher education and such a great initiative".

Supplier of the Year 2015, Early Childhood Development:
Winner: Clamber Club, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Supports good development for children, through movement".
  
• "Clamber Club focuses on a critical developmental area in ECD".

"What an amazing experience to be a part of the African EduWeek Awards", said Liz Senior, founder and CEO of the Clamber Club on Wednesday evening. "Along with our fundraisers we feel privileged to work in the field of ECD promoting learning through movement and developing exciting products."

Supplier of the Year 2015, Special Needs:
Winner: Sensory Solutions, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Well-placed to serve the market in the continent. Includes empowerment and development, which the market needs even more".

Supplier of the Year 2015, ICT:
Winner: Edit Microsystems, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Over the past two decades Edit has rendered an excellent service to schools and education departments throughout South Africa".
  
• "A well supported nomination with obvious customer satisfaction with their services".
  
• "Excellent product, excellent client references, good reputation in education market for product and support".

On winning the Supplier of the Year in the ICT category, Pieter Labuschagne, MD of Edit Microsystems, leading supplier of educational and corporate technology solutions in Southern Africa, said: "we are incredibly surprised but absolutely thrilled with this award. We consistently thrive to be innovative and creative. This award goed to show that we have been recognised for our continued efforts."

Supplier of the Year 2015, Innovation Product Award:
Winner: The Reach Trust, Department of Basic Education & UNICEF
What our judges said:

• "Virtual school accessible to all mobile devices, not just smart phones. Has the most potential and reach in the African context".

The CEO of the Reach Trust, Andrew Rudge said this in response:" it is an honour to receive this award, recognising the hard work of the trust, the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF to bring high quality education to all leaners and teachers, regardless of their personal circumstances."

Environment Award 2015:
Winner: Collect-a-Can, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Great initiative! Involving schools in this project serves an educational purpose. Collect a can has grown substantially and involves large number of people (children and adults)".
  
• "An excellent easy to participate fund raiser AND environmental awareness project which also encourages recycling".

Community project of the Year
Winner: SpellAfrica Initiative, Nigeria
What our judges said:

• "Evidence supports all the criteria. It's community impact is beginning to reach international levels".

NGO of the Year 2015:
Winner: Knysna Education Trust, South Africa
What our judges said:

• "Their focus on ECD, and development of teacher / care giver skills for the first 1000 days is amazing and so needed within our society. That these centres and the people leading and working within are up skilled and assisted to become truly effective institutions is highly commendable".

The winners of the Stars in Education and the Future Stars Awards, association with Argo, were also announced at the gala event last night.

Winner of the Future Stars Award:

Mapule Mofokeng, Student, CTI Randburg Campus.

Finalists:
- Montsheng Tryphosa Makhalemele, Student, TUT
- Karabo Maloka, Student, University of Pretoria

Winner in the Stars in Education Award:

Lesiba Kwenaite, Teacher, Pirwana Secondary School, Limpopo

Finalists:
- Kritisha Rajcoomar, HOD, Woodview Primary School, KwaZulu-Natal
- Selloane Mphafudi, Laerskool Westerlig, Gauteng

Proud to be associated with African EduWeek

Global education and publishing giant Pearson is the leading sponsor for the awards. "We are very proud to be associated with African Eduweek in order to honour our teachers", says Riaan Jonck, CEO of Pearson Education.

He adds: "Pearson has trained over 80 000 teachers in South Africa to date, and continues this professional development ethos through the established Teacher and Lecturer Academies. These academies were established in 2014 to deal with the challenges faced by the educators. The focus is on equipping educators with practical knowledge and skills with the aim of helping learners to flourish."

The esteemed panel that chose the finalists and winners from 130 entries comprises leading experts in the education sector, including teachers, NGOs, suppliers and consultants:

• Ariellah Rosenburg, CEO, ORT
  
• Marius Ehrenreich, President of South African Principals' Association / Groote Schuur High School
  
• Graham Brown-Martin, Founder, Learning Without Frontiers - African EduWeek - E-Tech Africa keynote speaker
  
• Sharon Rowe, Principal, Foot Prints Special Needs School
  
• Jaye Richards Hill, Managing Director, Tablet Academy Africa

SABC Education African EduWeek 2015 Exhibition
The 9th annual SABC Education African EduWeek is the only all-encompassing education event taking place in South Africa in 2015, and widely regarded as the premier education event on the African continent. It is taking place from 1-2 July in the Gallagher Convention Centre with more free-to-attend educational training and development for teachers, a futuristic look at teaching and dozens of suppliers with the latest classroom technology and services.

Enter a world of educational knowledge at African EduWeek and view the latest products and services for the education sector in areas that include basic education, IT, higher education, publishing, inclusive education, science and maths, safety and security, sustainability and energy efficiency and school supplies and stationery.

African EduWeek is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

Event dates and location:

SABC Education African EduWeek: 1-2 July 2015
EduTheatres and workshop programme: 1-2 July 2015
Exhibition: 1-2 July 2015
E-Tech Africa: 1-2 July 2015
African EduWeek Industry Awards: 1 July

Location: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa
Website: www.educationweek.co.za
Twitter: https://twitter.com/African_EduWeek

Media accreditation and interviews:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: moc.tnegilletnips@lobdoor.eiramenna