Top KZN pupils share their secrets to matric success
Persistent questions to teachers, long studying hours, and sleepless nights have paid off for high school pupils from KwaZulu-Natal who were named among the top performers in the National Senior Certificate examinations yesterday.
At least eight pupils from KZN were centre stage with their peers from other provinces as they were honoured at a special breakfast, by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube in the run-up to the release of the Grade 12 examination results.
Among the top performers from KZN that were honoured were Simesihle Khuzwayo from Bhekuzulu High School in Zululand, Amahle Ngidi from St. Martin’s, and Thobane Shezi from the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf.
Nonduduzo Mkhize from Fulton School for the Deaf, Olwethu Dladla from Tugela Secondary School, Asanda Ndlela from Masibumbane High School, Ethan Naicker from Port Shepstone Secondary, and Senamile Tabate from Mathubesizwe Secondary School were also recognised.
The pupils spoke of the excitement of being honoured by the minister and said there was a lot of sacrifice and hard work that went into achieving their results.
Naicker said he was excited and terrified at the same time to receive the call as one of the top performers. “I received the call on Friday; to be quite honest, I was not expecting it. I received a call and was quite surprised to be invited. Now that I am here, it is quite exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.”
He said he hoped that he had received all A’s in his seven subjects. “I am hoping it’s all A’s and in the 90s; that is the standard that I have set for myself.”
He mentioned that the results achieved are a result of consistent hard work and carefully managing his time. “You have to be consistent, manage your time, and have breaks to avoid burnout, because not taking breaks is how you burn out in matric.”
Naicker expressed his hopes of attending the University of Cape Town to study medicine and to later specialise in neurology.
Thobile Dladla, the mother of Olwethu Dladla, said her son’s performance “healed her”.
“I was not feeling well; in fact, I was about to see a doctor at the clinic when I received the call from the school principal that my son is one of the top performers. The moment that call came, I could feel the illness disappear.”
She accompanied her son to the event yesterday. “I am beyond happy with what he has achieved. I had thought that he would pass, but I did not think that it would be at this level. I have often seen children being honoured on television and always thought that it was children from rich families that achieved such success. I never thought a poor person like myself would be at the same level where my son is honoured,” she said.
“I am grateful that he has done well and thankful to the teachers that helped him get to this level, and I thank God that my son has achieved so much.”
Olwethu said he was delighted that he had achieved good results, noting that hard work, listening to his teachers, asking questions, and applying what they had taught him were the sources of his results.
“As for sleep, I was not sleeping at all during that period of examination,” he said, adding that he is planning to go to the University of Cape Town to study actuarial science this year.
Khuzwayo, said when she received the call that she was one of the top performers in the country, she could not contain her joy. “I was so excited I ran around the house. The call confirmed that all my hard work throughout the year had paid off. I worked hard, attended online classes, studied old question papers and asked teachers many questions. I was studying until 3 am in the morning, so the call just confirmed that all my hard work had not been in vain.”
She said she is hoping to go to the University of Cape Town to study medicine.