Khonzani Lembeni (a teacher at the Two Oceans Aquarium Environmental Education Centre) recently won the “Best Presentation” award at the Marine and Coastal Educators’ Network (MCEN) annual conference. This is the second year in a row that Khonzani has scooped this award!
MCEN is a network of educators who teach children and adults about marine and coastal environmental issues. These educators are either from the formal education sector (schools and universities) or from the informal education sector (aquariums, zoos and government).
Each year, the group meets in a different part of the country to network and share ideas with like-minded people as well as to explore the issues facing that particular area of the coast. This year’s conference, with the theme “Sustainable Oceans and Coasts – Let’s do it together”, was held at uShaka Marine World in KwaZulu-Natal.
Khonzani’s presentation was based on one of the new lessons that the Environmental Education Centre is offering to school groups that visit the Two Oceans Aquarium. The lesson is called “Fish Mathematics” and deals with dwindling fish stocks and the legislation that applies to the harvesting of fish. The lesson also incorporates numeracy and literacy skills and therefore fulfils the Department of Education’s mandate of improving learners’ skills in these subjects.
“At first I was nervous when my boss selected me from the Aquarium’s education team to present at the national conference. I am very proud to receive this award and as I said on the day: ‘This award is for my TOA education team,’ said Khonzani.
Khonzani’s enthusiasm for teaching is palpable, whether he is presenting a lesson, or speaking to others about the work that the Two Oceans Aquarium Environmental Education Centre does. To this end Khonzani said: “The award shows how much the Two Oceans Aquarium Environmental Education Centre is appreciated by other provinces and environmental education centres. The work we do is amazing – changing lives every day.”
Said Two Oceans Aquarium Assistant Head of Education Bianca Engel: “I am exceptionally proud of Khonzani’s achievement. This award – best MCEN presenter - is a wonderful recognition of his confidence as a presenter but also affirmation from our peers in the marine educational field with regard to how effective and relevant our new lesson activity is.”
Our congratulations go out to Khonzani on winning this award as well as the Environmental Education Centre on their hard work and their continued commitment to educating South Africa about our marine heritage.
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