Kwabhekilanga Secondary School’s Grade 12 pupils recently received wise counsel about life and the future from interns and officials of the Sandton-based law firm Bowman Gilfillan.
The firm inspired the students to achieve better results than their predecessors who, since 2013, have maintained the school’s matric pass rate in the 90 percent range but not the ultimate 100 percent, said to be the norm at many former model C and private schools.
The visit, facilitated by the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry, included company vice chairman and former justice minister, Penuel Maduna, and interns from various local universities. They informed the students that the school’s achievement had attracted wide interest as part of society’s desire to see township schools also achieve a 100 percent pass rate.
Maduna told them that this was achievable after the post-apartheid government created an enabling environment to excel in education despite one’s social circumstances. “There are favourable conditions through the fee exemption policy for children in township schools to access adequate and appropriate education to help you pass well, exit poverty and gain limitless real empowerment and possibilities,” he said. Education, he said, was the only personal asset no one could take away or steal from them. “Commit to it and it will improve your and your families’ circumstances and will make the country and the world a better place to live in.”
The interns informed the students that law impacted lives daily and was a career option if they have a passion for social justice or other forms of legal practice such as corporate law. They said it taught a different way of thinking and solving problems, rights and responsibilities to oneself and others, was a tool to protect everyone’s life and dignity but, required patience and was hard work.
To pass matric well and ensure a positive future, pupils need to:
- Be disciplined, confident, and manage peer pressure
- Know and believe in themselves and never give up
- Set and work towards personal goals one at a time and know that nothing is impossible with commitment
- Work hard, support each other and seek assistance
- Not to be discouraged by the high unemployment rates as doors were always open somewhere if a person had a good education
- Balance schoolwork and social life as both are important
- Seek part-time work for sideline income to support unforeseen educational needs
- Keep applying to many universities if turned down the first time
- Apply on time as deadlines are non-negotiable
- Know there are many financial support agencies including individuals willing to support diligent students
- Consider colleges, technikons and learnerships for technical careers.
