What does it mean to put genuine subject expertise behind every workbook, guide and resource you create? At EGD Learning, we now have a pretty remarkable answer.

On 2 October 2026, Nadine de Lange, EGD Learning’s Head of Education and the person behind the development of our workbooks and guides, was awarded first place nationally in the EGD teachers’ category of the National Skills Competition.

For EGD Learning, this is a moment worth celebrating. For Nadine, it is the culmination of a competition that put her technical knowledge, drawing ability, accuracy and problem-solving skills to the ultimate test.

And for the educators and learners who use EGD Learning resources, it offers something particularly meaningful: confidence that the knowledge behind those resources comes from someone who has been recognised among the very best in the country.

A national competition celebrating technical excellence

Hosted on behalf of the Sasol Foundation, Kagiso Trust and the Department of Basic Education, the National Skills Competition was established to identify and recognise South Africa’s top-performing learners and teachers in vocational subjects and Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD).

The journey to the national finals began at provincial level. Participants first competed in qualifying rounds, with the strongest candidates progressing to represent their provinces nationally.

Nadine entered through Curro Soshanguve, qualifying as the Gauteng representative in the EGD teachers’ category.

That meant travelling to the national finals held on 1 and 2 October 2026, where she joined eight other EGD teachers from across South Africa. Nine teachers. Nine provinces. One national title.

What followed was not a test that could be passed by simply knowing the theory.

It was a test of whether participants could apply their technical knowledge accurately, efficiently and creatively under significant time pressure.

Six hours. Two complex technical drawing tasks.

The national competition consisted of two practical tasks, with participants given a total of six hours to complete the required work.

Task 1: Mechanical drawing

The first challenge began with something deceptively ordinary: a desktop tape dispenser.

Participants had to disassemble the dispenser and use the individual components to produce a comprehensive set of technical drawings.

This included:

  • Detailed working drawings of the individual components
  • Sectional views
  • An exploded isometric drawing
  • An assembly drawing

Every element needed to demonstrate accurate dimensions, appropriate annotations and correct technical drawing conventions.

In other words, this was not simply about being able to draw what you see. It required participants to understand how the components relate to one another, interpret the object three-dimensionally and communicate that understanding through precise technical drawings.

Task 2: Design and freehand drawing

The second task introduced another layer of complexity.

Participants were required to produce scaled freehand orthographic drawings of a staple remover, then modify its design according to a set of specific requirements.

The improved design then had to be communicated through an isometric drawing.

This task required participants to interpret a design brief, make considered design decisions and communicate the resulting concept clearly and accurately through freehand technical drawing.

Across both tasks, there was very little room for error.

Dimensions had to be accurate, annotations had to be appropriate, drawing conventions had to be followed – and, of course, everything had to be completed within the allotted time.

From Gauteng representative to national winner

Once the six hours of practical work were complete, the submissions were assessed to determine the top three participants.

The results were announced at the awards ceremony on 2 October 2026.

And Nadine was named the national winner in the EGD teachers’ category.

First place.

Out of nine provincial representatives from across South Africa.

It is an extraordinary achievement, particularly because the competition tested the very skills that sit at the heart of Engineering Graphics and Design: technical understanding, spatial reasoning, precision, design capabilities, drawing conventions and the ability to translate ideas into technically accurate visual communication.

Why this matters to EGD Learning

For us, Nadine’s achievement has significance beyond the trophy.

Nadine is not simply part of the EGD Learning team. As our Head of Education, she is the person responsible for developing the EGD workbooks and guides that underpin what we offer to EGD educators and learners.

That means the expertise demonstrated in this competition is the same expertise that informs the educational resources we create.

  • The ability to look at a component and understand how it works
  • The ability to interpret a technical drawing
  • The ability to identify what a learner needs to understand
  • The ability to explain complex concepts clearly
  • The ability to recognise where precision matters
  • The ability to approach a design problem from multiple perspectives

These are not separate skills from those required to create high-quality educational resources. They are fundamental to them.

And that is why Nadine’s win is particularly special for EGD Learning.

When you choose an EGD Learning workbook or guide, you are not simply choosing another educational resource. You are putting your learning in the hands of someone who has just been recognised as the best EGD teacher in South Africa.

Excellence that makes its way into the classroom

A national competition may take place over two days, but the expertise behind a result like this is built over years.

It comes from understanding the subject deeply, from teaching it, continually refining how concepts are explained, knowing where learners struggle and what helps them move forward, and from having the technical ability to demonstrate the standards expected of them.

Those are exactly the qualities we believe should go into EGD learning resources.

At EGD Learning, our goal has always been to create resources that make EGD more accessible, structured and meaningful for both educators and learners. Nadine’s achievement reinforces something we already know: subject expertise matters.

Because when the person developing the resource is not only an experienced educator but a nationally recognised EGD champion, learners benefit from knowledge that has been tested at the highest level.

Congratulations, Nadine!

Everyone at EGD Learning is incredibly proud of Nadine and this outstanding achievement.

From qualifying as Gauteng’s representative to competing against EGD teachers from every province and ultimately taking the national title, her journey is a testament to the knowledge, skill, precision and dedication that she brings to her work every day.

Congratulations, Nadine de Lange – South Africa’s national EGD teachers’ champion for 2026.

And to the educators and learners who use EGD Learning resources: now you know a little more about the expertise behind the pages.

Looking for EGD workbooks, guides, teacher resources, drawing kits or anything else EGD-related? Contact EGD Learning – we’re here to help you find the right resources for your classroom.