Merrifield helps Sakhikamva High with matric support programme
It has been almost 10 months since Merrifield College began assisting Sakhikamva High School in Nompumelelo township, Beacon Bay, through a matric support programme.
Merrifield has been offering a support programme aimed at uplifting and empowering grade 12 pupils at the neighbouring Sakhikamva High who are now writing their final exams.
For four days a week, pupils from Sakhikamva go to the college to attend extra classes in mathematics, physical sciences, maths literacy, geography, life sciences, English and computer literacy.
Merrifield maths teacher Thina Maqubela, who is also the co-ordinator of the student and diversity committee, said they have had a partnership with the school for many years, but introduced the matric support programme for the first time this year.
“Merrifield partnered with Sakhikamva High School in its endeavour to meaningfully collaborate with a local school as part of our community engagement programmes.
“The relationship has existed for years but now has been extended to focus on supporting learners in a variety of subjects.”
Maqubela said they had approached the school because of its proximity and because it was easy to access.
She said the school had the responsibility of making a difference in its community.
“As a well-resourced school, Merrifield recognises that it has a responsibility to make a difference to the community by using what it is good at, which is education, to better the lives of those around it.
“This is to help enrich the kind of educators the school has, but also to help expose our learners to how diverse our country is, and enable them to be proactively involved in challenges faced by their peers in less fortunate circumstances.”
The relationship has existed for years but now has been extended to focus on supporting learners in a variety of subjects
She said she hoped the programme would open Merrifield pupils’ eyes to how privileged they were and give them a deeper understanding of societal issues.
Deputy principal at Sakhikamva High School, Mfundo Madolo, said the lessons had been helpful to their pupils.
“The programme has been very beneficial to our school. It has exposed our learners to development in terms of computer skills.
“We do not have any computer labs in our school, and yet our learners have the luxury of being taught Microsoft, Powerpoint and internet surfing. When they enter tertiary [education] next year, they will be well equipped.
“It has assisted in terms of boosting the learners’ morale. We have seen an improvement which we believe will play a part in the pass rate at the end of the year.”