As Grade 11s head into the final quarter of the year after the holidays, they are advised to use the coming months before they start their final year of school to implement a strategy that will smooth their matric journey and ensure maximum success, an education expert said.
“There are some sure-fire ways you can ensure you finish your school career successfully, and set yourself up for entering higher education on the path towards a fulfilling career,” said Wonga Ntshinga, senior head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education.
Ntshinga said it was to be expected that there would remain some challenges associated with this period in history in the year to come, and some new challenges may arise.
Wonga advised Grade 11s to invest in their future now by taking the following steps:
- SHOOT FOR THE STARS WHEN SITTING FOR YOUR GRADE 11 FINALS
“Grade 11 is an opportunity to hedge your bets against any potential problems that may arise in Grade 12, whether academically or personally,” said Ntshinga.
“So as you head back to school for the fourth term, resolve to do everything in your power to finish the year as strong as possible and to perform to the best of your ability in the exams,” Ntshinga said.
- TAKE SOME TIME DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO WORK ON SUBJECTS REQUIRING ATTENTION
After the exams, make sure you get some well-deserved rest following a tough year. And then, when you have relaxed sufficiently, invest a small amount of time working on concepts or subjects you found tricky during the year or which showed up as areas for improvement during the exams, Ntshinga advised.
“By investing a few days during the holidays, you can significantly strengthen your foundations going into matric. Working on just a handful of core concepts or challenges while you have free time will let you enter the new year with a stronger foundation and momentum, allowing you to spend more time on the new subject matter in matric,” he said.
- PLAN YOUR YEAR AHEAD
“During the holidays, draw a calendar outline of next year and note down important dates,” said Ntshinga.
“By conducting this exercise, you will create a deep understanding of how much time you’ll have available to study and revise next year – spoiler alert, it is less than you think – and by when certain actions need to happen. This will allow you to calmly, and timeously master work, rather than having to anxiously cram as the finals and other deadlines creep up on you.”
- TAKE TIME TO THINK OF YOUR FUTURE PLANS
By now, most Grade 11s should have a good idea of what they want to do after matric.
“If you do not yet know, or are undecided about your plans going into 2023, now is the ideal time to consider the matter – before you go to matric,” said Ntshinga.
For those learners who don’t yet know what they want to do after matric, the December holidays provide the perfect opportunity to consider their plans, Ntshinga said.
- GET SOME GOOD HABITS GOING
The past two years have been extremely stressful, and next year seems likely to continue in a similar fashion, at least for a while.
“Even if the world returns completely to pre-Covid times, what the pandemic experience has shown us is that we need to work on building good and healthy habits and work on maintaining mental, physical and emotional wellbeing,” said Ntshinga.
