Pinelands North Primary has finished as runners up in the World’s Best School Prize in the category of “overcoming adversity”.
In an announcement made by T4 Education in World Education Week yesterday, October 19, Project Shelter Wakadogo in Uganda won the first prize of $50 000 (approximately R911 500) ahead of Pinelands North and Escola Evandro Ferreira Dos Santos in Brazil.
Pinelands North Primary School principal Ann Morton paid tribute to the winners, especially their teachers, who she says went out of their way to teach the children at their own homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Morton says it has been special for Pinelands North Primary to be recognised for their hard work since they were nominated in the top 10 in the category for overcoming adversity.
“I like to thank all the children who have come through our doors that pushed us to do things differently in supporting them,” she says.
She thanked all the staff, parents and the broader community who had been so positive about the changes they are making for the future generation.
Ms Morton says over 300 000 schools entered this global competition in a variety of different categories and they were honoured to end up as finalists.
Earlier this year Pinelands North Primary School and West End Primary School in Mitchell’s Plain were nominated in the top 10 category for World’s Best School in the overcoming adversity category. It was part of the competition launched by T4 Education in partnership with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture and American Express (“Pinelands North nominated for global school prize,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, June 16).
In September they were nominated along with the schools from Uganda and Brazil to make the top three ( “Pinelands North makes final three for global school prize,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, September 29).
Ms Morton told the Tatler in September that their school continually aimed to overcome adversity each day by creating an inclusive environment, welcoming pupils and teachers from different cultural backgrounds as well as transgender children (the school has gender-neutral bathrooms); installing ramps for children with disabilities; helping teachers and pupils with special needs; encouraging children to care for animals; and offering sign language as a subject in Grade 2 and woodwork and needlework classes to all genders.
MEC for Education David Maynier says their department congratulates Project Shelter Wakadogo in Gulu, Uganda, on winning the category’s prize.
“They have done incredible and inspiring work in difficult social circumstances, transforming lives through education,” he says.
“While Pinelands North Primary did not make it all the way to first place, it remains a fantastic achievement for our country and for the Western Cape. We congratulate the staff and SGB, learners and parents, and the entire school community.”
Premier Alan Winde says Pinelands North has made the Western Cape and South Africa proud. “To have made it to the finals of the Overcoming Adversity category was a huge achievement all by itself. This reflects the hard work of the school’s educators, staff, School Governing Body and learners,” he says.
