The awards are supported by South Africa's top leadership and are attended by the president, the Minister of Education and all nine provincial premiers.
The following four categories of awards are presented:
- The Presidential Awards. The president presents an award in each of the following categories:
- Early Childhood Development.
- Adult Basic Education and Training.
- Provision of Education for People with Special Needs.
- The Business in Education Awards. These are also presented by the president in each of the following categories:
- Business with up to 50 staff members.
- Business with up to 500 staff members.
- Business with more than 500 staff members.
- The Minister's Awards. These awards were introduced for the first time in 2001 and are presented by the Minister of Education in recognition of work done to help eradicate HIV/Aids in South Africa through education. Awards are presented in each of the following three categories:
- The business sector.
- Non-profit organisations.
- Schools.
- The Premier Awards. Each of the nine premiers presents an award to an individual or organisation in recognition of the exceptional work they have done in their respective province at primary and/or secondary school level.
While the awards are presented by government, Education Africa plays an instrumental role in this exciting event. Not only did we initiate these awards way back in 1995, but we also perform an important administrative and co-ordinating function in organising the glittering awards ceremony. This means co-ordinating all administrative activities such as stationery, distribution of entry forms, promoting the awards, co-ordinating the entries received and then submitting them to government for adjudication, liaising with finalists, co-ordinating the entire awards ceremony and co-hosting the event in conjunction with the Minister of Education.
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"I wish to express my gratitude for the sterling work done by Education Africa in mobilising our people around education."
The then Minister of Education, Professor Sibusiso Bengn, speaking at the first-ever Education Africa, Presidential and Premier Education Awards Ceremony on 2 December 1995
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The Education Africa, Presidential and Premier Education Awards were initiated by Education Africa in 1995. These awards, which are held in co-operation with the Ministry of Education, are designed to pay tribute to the many worthwhile, non-governmental educational projects and business organisations which are playing an instrumental role in raising the standards of education of the people of South Africa.