Celebrations for the Western Cape at the National Education Excellence Awards
Statement by Bronagh Hammond – Director Communication – Western Cape Education Department
The Western Cape, once again, made a strong showing at the National Education Excellence Awards on 24 July 2026, earning national recognition across a number of school and district categories. The awards acknowledge exceptional performance in key teaching and learning indicators.
Schools Awards
In the category of Top-Performing Public Ordinary Schools, the Centre of Science and Technology (COSAT) in Khayelitsha was awarded the title of the top-performing Quintile 3 school in the country. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of its educators, learners, and the broader school community.
Mr Tiro Motaung, the principal of COSAT received the award on behalf of the school.
“It is with great gratitude for COSAT to be given the accolade for being the National Top performing Quintile 3 for National Senior Certificate 2025. This praise reflects on the hard work of our teachers, from teaching Mathematics and English to the incoming Grade 8 learners while they are in Grade 7. It also reflects the continued effort of never giving up and courage of all our learners studying Mathematics , Physical Sciences, Life Science and Information Technology.
We live by our motto: No excuses - just success!” (Mr Motaung, principal of COSAT)
The achievements of the Western Cape schools were further recognised across several prestigious categories.
In the Top-Performing Public Ordinary Schools category for Quintile 5 schools, Westerford High School was awarded third place, while Bloemhof Girls' High School secured an impressive second place nationally.
Recognition was also given for excellence in the Upkeep and Maintenance of School Facilities category for high schools, where Vredendal Secondary School achieved third place, demonstrating a strong commitment to creating a safe, well-maintained, and conducive learning environment for all learners.
District awards:
Several districts were honoured for their exceptional performance in key academic areas. In the Participation versus Performance in Mathematics category, the Metro North Education District achieved second place, reflecting its commitment to improving learner achievement and participation in Mathematics.
In Physical Sciences, the Metro North Education District was awarded third place, while the Cape Winelands Education District received first place, highlighting outstanding learner performance and academic excellence in this critical subject area.
The Eden and Central Karoo Education District was recognised for Excellence in District Leadership and Management, securing first place for its exemplary leadership, governance, and support to schools across the district.
The Metro Central Education District was awarded first place for Excellence in District Support for Primary Learning Outcomes, acknowledging its significant contribution to improving foundational learning and educational outcomes in primary schools.
The Western Cape Education Department was also honoured with a Special Ministerial Award in recognition of all its education districts achieving a National Senior Certificate pass rate above 80% in 2025.
“Congratulations to all of our officials, principals, teachers and school staff who work under extreme pressure every single day to deliver on our vision of quality education for every child, in every classroom, in every school in the Western Cape.
Their commitment to educational excellence continues to ensure that learners are provided with opportunities to achieve their full potential and contribute positively to society”. (Acting Provincial Minister for Education, Anton Bredell)
