Principal gets lifetime achievement award

It was “a strange and a very emotional moment” for Ridwan Samodien, principal of Kannemeyer Primary School, when he was awarded the Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 National Teaching Awards.

Mr Samodien, who is also the co-founder of Citizen Leader Lab’s award-winning flagship programme, Partners for Possibility, said: “It was unexpected to receive this prestigious award. There are so many deserving principals out there and each doing the very best they can under trying conditions. So, this recognition is as much to them as it is to me.”

This award comes after the Western Cape Education Department in September announced its 10 provincial National Teaching Awards nominees in various categories. Mr Samodien, who was named among these nominees, represented the province in the national competition, which took place on October 20 in Pretoria.

The function of the Citizen Leader Lab’s flagship programme, Partners for Possibility, is to pair school principals with business leaders in a 12-month collaborative and practical leadership journey.