Pupils – and teachers – prepare for matric exams

MATRICS across the province were burning the midnight oil as they prepare for their National Senior Certificate examinations which start in a month’s time.

And schools and teachers were also going into overdrive to help pupils perform well.

“I’ve been working hard and the teachers have been pushing us throughout the year. Now I’m just praying that all my hard work is not in vain. I know that I’m going to pass but for me it is about getting the necessary points because I want to study at a university,” said Nkosibomvu Secondary School pupil Samu Nxumalo.

She was one of 155 000 pupils who were scheduled to sit for the first English paper around Kwazulu-natal on October 24. Adams College’s principal Thulani Khumalo said matrics would not be going home when schools close on Friday.

“From Sunday, all our Grade 12 pupils, and those visiting from other schools, have to be in the classroom for our 8 to 8 programme. The first lesson will commence at 8am and the last one ends at 8pm everyday. The programme will run until Saturday,” he said.

Khumalo did not know how many pupils from other schools would attend as they would be brought by the department of education. Adams College was among the country’s highly rated public schools, and boasts an alumni that includes former AU chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Principal of Ohlange High School, Inanda, Siyanda Nxumalo said they would also be hosting a matric camp at their school during the third term school holidays. “We have 15 progressed learners but they have been working hard throughout the year so I’m sure not all of them will be modularising. In fact some will do better than some of their peers who had passed Grade 11,” he said.

Progressed pupils are those who failed Grade 10 or 11 and were then automatically promoted to matric.

Those that did not cope with the curriculum demands in Grade 12 would write their matric exams over a two-year period, taking four subjects in the first year and three in the next. At least 20 000 progressed pupils were scheduled to write their matrics this year but teachers were waiting for the finalisation of third-term results before advising on their modularisation options.

Department spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa said it was confident the province could improve from its 2016 pass rate of 69.5% to 76%.

“Our intervention programmes from the beginning of the year to date, makes us feel confident that we are going to do well during these exams. Our advice to our matrics is what we have been telling them from the beginning of the year, that nothing beats hard work, preparation and a positive attitude.”

Private schools such as Crawford North Coast College and Ashton International College-ballito were preparing pupils for the Cambridge International Assessment Examinations or the Independent Examinations Board finals.