iStore Education Launches 2025 Excellence in Education Awards to Celebrate Innovation in Teaching and Learning

iStore Education has announced the launch of the 2025 Excellence in Education Awards, a nationwide celebration of educators and students who are transforming the learning experience through the creative and impactful use of Apple technology.

Now in its 17th year, the Awards continue to showcase the innovative ways South African schools are embracing digital tools to spark curiosity and deepen understanding. This year’s challenge asks a simple yet powerful question: “How have you used Apple products to bring learning to life?” From artificial intelligence and coding in Swift to digital storytelling and seamless integration of iPad and Mac, the Awards recognise those reimagining what’s possible in education.

Michelle Lissoos, Director at iStore Education, emphasised the transformative role of technology in the classroom:

“This year’s theme reflects our mission to empower South African teachers and students to explore, create and solve real-world problems using Apple technology. We’re continually inspired by the incredible talent and innovation we see each year. The Awards are a platform to celebrate the educators shaping future-ready learners through creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.”

Entries will be evaluated across three grade categories, Foundation Phase (Grades R–3), Intermediate Phase (Grades 4–7), and Senior Phase (Grades 8–12), with projects judged in one of three core award areas by a panel of international experts:

• The Creative Excellence Award: Celebrating imaginative, visually compelling projects that use Apple technology to make learning unforgettable.

• The Curriculum Excellence Award: Recognising seamless curriculum integration that makes academic concepts interactive, relevant and impactful.

• The Tech Excellence Award: Showcasing future-forward classrooms using AI or coding platforms on Apple devices to develop creativity, problem-solving and computational thinking.

Finalists will be invited to an awards celebration in November 2025. First-place prizes include an iPad for the submitting teacher and iPads for up to two student collaborators per winning project.

Projects must be submitted online and include a high-quality mp4, mp3 (up to three minutes) or eBook (up to ten pages). Each submission must list the teacher and student(s), apps and resources used, and clear evidence of Mac or iPad technology in action. The competition is open to individual or group entries (one teacher with up to two students per project). The submission deadline is 3 October 2025.

“Technology alone doesn’t transform education, it’s the people behind it who do. Through the Excellence in Education Awards, we honour the teachers and learners who bring learning to life every day. Their projects don’t just inspire—they set the benchmark for modern learning.” Lissoos added.

Educators and students are encouraged to enter and show how they’ve turned curiosity into action, lessons into experiences, and classrooms into creative labs powered by Apple.

For more information or to submit a project, visit education.istore.co.za/excellence-in-education or email education@istore.co.za.