The Brilliants Programme - 2006
NSTF Education Recognition Programme
Although the NSTF Awards’ main purpose is to reward excellence among professional adults (researchers, academics, lecturers, journalists, mentors, entrepreneurs, etc), we are mindful of the critical importance of the quality of school education, especially in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
The NSTF has therefore, for the past few years, hosted some top achievers from the school education sector (further education) at our Awards Gala Dinner. Telkom Foundation generously sponsors this aspect of the NSTF Awards, and this year BHP Billiton also contributes a substantial amount of sponsorship. Selected learners, past matriculants, educators and school principals are special guests of honour at the Gala Dinner. Their attendance, travel costs and accommodation, and in the case of the learners the expenses of an accompanying adult as well, are covered, and the Deputy Minister of Education himself, congratulates them and presents them with certificates. They share in our celebration of inspiring work and people in various science, engineering and technology fields. They have a chance to rub shoulders with some of the greatest researchers and innovators in South Africa.
These are the groups of special guests from the Further Education Sector:
- The nine top performing Dinaledi schools in Mathematics and Science in South Africa, 2006, as identified by the national Department of Education.
- Capricorn High School
- Durban Girls’ High
- Letsatsing High
- Livingstone High
- Metropolitan Raucall
- Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High
- Queens High
- The Cape Academy for MST
- Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High
- National winners of the Aggrey Klaaste Mathematics and Science Educator of the Year Awards (2006).
- Mr Colin van Tooren
- Mr Thamsanqa Makhathini
- Ms Mmamosading Monareng
- The 9 top female matriculants from disadvantaged communities, one from each province, who obtained the highest marks in Mathematics and Science last year in Grade 12, as identified by the Department of Education.
- Mahlagaume Mafulasha Dinkwanyane
- Afia Serwa Boachie-Yiadom
- Nomalungelo Precious Mbatha
- Nandipha Princess Mdiniso
- Reabetswe Bardott Ndaku
- Bajabulile Sarah Shabangu
- Genevia Kefilwe Segalwe
- Kwakho Pateka Bunyonyo
- Mpho Adelaide Maponya
- To further support and encourage girls’ involvement with SET, recognition is given to those girls who have excelled or shown outstanding promise in a variety of SET competitions or activities, namely: Mathematics Olympiad, Science Olympiad, Technology Olympiad, and the Expo for Young Scientists.
- Expo for Young Scientists
- Lerato Segomotso Mashile
- Lisa Pretorius
- Yajna Maharaj
- Maths Olympiad
- Kylie Fenner
- Tianran Jiang
- Yafei Patricia Wang
- Science Olympiad
- Kathleen Louw
- Garakara Sheila
- Isla Mackellar
- Technology Olympiad
- Zamambo Mkize
- Samkelisiwe Sithole
- Nonkululeko Mhlanga
In total, 21 girls who have excelled in Mathematics, Science and Technology in some way, are hosted and honoured at the Awards gala event every year.
The three educators that are given recognition, consist of two top Mathematics and Science Educators (National Winners) and one Retired Educator. The attendance of their partners is included in the sponsorship.
The aim of inviting the groups mentioned above is to give recognition for their achievements, and encourage them to aspire to even greater heights. In future we might give an award for the best learner / school in this group (e.g. bursaries). This year, as added value to the reward of attending the Gala Dinner, the 21 girls will be hosted by Mintek the next day, for an information session and especially to learn about bursary and career opportunities. The adults who accompanied them to the Gala Dinner, are to be hosted by the NSTF for the day. The girls, educators and principals who attend the Gala Dinner each receive a free subscription to the journal of the Academy of Science of South Afica, Quest.
The NSTF gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following organistions
 Mintek, South Africa’s national mineral research organisation, is one of the world’s leading technology organisations specialising in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and related areas. On 24 May 2007, Mintek hosted the female learners and students informing them about real world applications and career opportunities in science, technology and engineering, with a specific focus on analytical services, mineral processing and advance material, mineralogy, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. The learners and students received bursary forms from Mintek, posters and periodic tables of elements.
 ASSAf enriched the experiences of the recipients of the Education programme of the NSTF Awards by handing out free copies of their popular magazine, Quest: Science for Society and sponsoring the subscription fees for a whole year.
The magazine aims to promote the developments in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) arena to the broader public in an understandable and exciting way. The magazine contributes significantly to the popularisation of SET to the youth in SA.
For more information on the magazine, as well as the activities of ASSAf, visit their website on www.assaf.co.za
The NSTF would like to thank ASSAf for their efforts to build the nation through SET.
 Parents of the top female learners were treated on the 24th May 2007 to a tour through the Pretoria Zoo and the programme included educational talks by specialists of the zoo on animal behaviour, a very interesting tour of its Animal Hospital and Research Centre, as well as a "behind the scenes" tour of the aquarium! The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) sponsored the entrance fees to the zoo! The NSTF also congratulates Dr Paul Bartels, NZG for winning the category Individual through activities other than Research and its outputs (over the past 5 years).
 The top female learners from the various Science and Technology competitions during 2006, as well as the top female matriculants from previously disadvantaged communities and their parents, each received a gift in the form of an African Clay Pot from the corporate collection of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in recognition of their educational achievements.
Last updated: 14 September 2009
|
