Varsity welcomes Khwe student
OUT OF a class of 28 matric pupils at !XunKhwesa Combined School, Jason Jona Marenda was one of only seven who passed and the only one who obtained a university entrance.
The 19-year-old matriculant is now furthering his tertiary education in Heritage Studies at Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley.
Marenda matriculated in 2015 with an entry into university and originally enrolled to study Public Management at a college in Bloemfontein. Due to financial constraints, however, he was forced to drop out.
This year, he has been awarded NSFAS funding to ensure that his tuition is covered.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Sol Plaatje University, Professor Yunus Ballim, said that it was an honour for the university to welcome the Khwe student.
“It is a significant moment for the university as it is the first time we have a student from the !XunKhwesa Combined School at our university. Very few pupils at the school make it to matric, and the social conditions in Platfontein are not conducive for the young pupils,” said Ballim.
“Jason has done well and achieved good results in matric and we are happy to accommodate him at our university.
“He is currently studying Heritage Studies and hopes to study towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from next year.
Marenda said that he “fell in love with teaching” when he assisted one of his former teachers at the school last year. “I helped pupils in Grade 4 to Grade 6 with English. We did reading, and my passion for teaching grew from there.”