Five things every matric should know

Kagiso Shanduka Trust (KST) recently visited five schools in Free State's Motheo District to deliver the first in its series of Grade 12 Schools Talks. The talks aim to help matric learners understand the challenges and opportunities facing them in their immediate future, as they prepare for the tertiary stage of their education.

28 Jul 2016

Kealeboga Moremba, Communications Officer for KST, hosted the talks, emphasising five realities that would prove useful to learners as they took the next step in their school careers. Moremba drew attention to the following points:

You do not need to attend a private school, or come from an affluent background, in order to be a high achiever. You can create a great future, regardless of your past. Become an inspiring success story that motivates your community and fellow learners to pursue excellence.
It is impossible to accomplish anything without hard work. Hard work helps you maintain consistency.
Perseverance is critical. Even if you do not have a glowing academic record, it is never too late to give of your best – and when you start trying, you’ll start succeeding.
Success is a state of mind, but you need to get the foundations right. Nutritious foods provide fuel for body and mind, while rest and exercise are also vital. Reading up on study and exam tips can have a significant impact on your academic performance. You will also put yourself in a position of strength by reading up on tertiary institutions and finding out as much as you can about the career and qualification you are interested in and about university life in general.
Don’t disregard the impact of peer pressure. Surrounding yourself with positive people will keep you motivated, but beware of those who might bring you down. As the saying goes: “birds of a feather flock together”.

The talks were held from 20 - 21 July 2016, with a KST team initially visiting six schools: Popano Secondary School, Ntumediseng Secondary School, Leratong Secondary School and Kgauho Secondary School all in Botshabelo; as well as Tlotlanang Combined School and Strydom High School in ThabaNchu. The schools selected for the programme already receive curriculum support from KST.

For the Grade 12 School Talks KST distributed information packs, sponsored by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Damelin College and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), providing the learners with crucial information on bursaries and careers.

The talks are being hosted as part of KST’s aim to support South Africa’s youth, while specifically motivating Grade 12 learners to achieve good results and ensuring their preparedness for tertiary studies.

“We specifically chose to pilot this project during Mandela Month, as it is a time when South Africans reflect on how they can lend others practical assistance,” KST Operations Manager, Kaya Nyati, commented. The timing was also pertinent as matriculants are about to embark on the second half of their final year of school; a critical stage in their education.

“This isn’t simply about enthusing learners, but also about empowering them with information, and helping them find solutions to study challenges. We also offered them sound guidance on what to expect from their first year as university students – important, because this is a stage of life and transition many learners find difficult,” Nyati concluded.