CORNER OFFICE.
Covid-19 made 2020 a tough year for pupils but Alexandra-based matriculant Siphamandla Jiya of Kwabhekilanga Secondary School is aiming for five distinctions.
Siphamandla Jiya from Alexandra did not allow outside influences to deter him from studying towards his final matric exams.
Jiya said he was expecting five distinctions, in geography, life sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and isiXhosa, or at least to receive a level six for each subject, which still guaranteed he would be accepted into any university to study actuarial sciences.
He advised pupils still in high school to keep positive towards their studies.
“I’d advise other pupils still in high school to be self-disciplined and not approach their studies with a negative attitude.”
The Kwabhekilanga Secondary School matriculant explained that he studied late at night in the kitchen using a small stool as a table, because he lives in a two-room house and the kitchen was the only available space for him.
“I live near a tavern and at about 11pm towards the early hours of the morning were the times that were quiet and suitable for me to study without any disturbance.”
Jiya added how supportive his parents had been in his final year at school.
“My parents were a huge part of my support structure in the previous year.
“Especially when I needed data and airtime, they made sure I always had that because they did not want me to perform poorly and blame it on the pandemic," he said.
Due to not having adequate resources, he frequently listened to the radio on his phone so he could catch any important announcements made by the department of education regarding school matters and studied from online videos he would download.
“During the hard lockdown, I preferred to study alone rather than in a group so that I could study certain topics thoroughly at my own pace.”