LAST year ended on a high note for Phambili High School in Seaview when the school enjoyed a 68.8 per cent matric pass rate, which is an increase of 8.7 per cent from 2016.
This success can partially be attributed to the sponsorship of a science lab and library from local cement manufacturer NPC/Intercement.
Also read: Overcoming challenges, Phambili High soars into 2017 | Highway Mail
Principal, Londa Luthuli, was very pleased with the continuing progress of the learners.
“The learners want to be educated at Phambili High School. They want to improve their results and enjoy the favourable atmosphere at the school which is proving highly conducive to studying. The science lab and library have played a significant part in the success story and we are also seeing more quality students at the school and responsible parents who view the school as a positive educational training ground for their children.”
Traditionally Phambili High School was seen as an institution that catered for low-income families and students who encountered social problems in other schools. However, this view is changing and more families are seeing the value of quality education the school is providing.
Two learners who are benefitting from the generosity of NPC/Intercement’s sponsorship of the Science lab and Library, are 18-year-old Luyanda Ntanzi and 19-year-old Ian Lamula.
Both these learners are hard at work, taking full advantage of the positive and productive atmosphere Phambili provides to prepare themselves for a bright future.
Luyanda Ntanzi is all smiles as she relates her plans for the future with her main subjects being physical science and pure maths.
She is aspiring for a place at a University in Cape Town.
“I want to study either medicine or mechanical engineering. My father is a mechanic and I often help him work on cars. I love watching and assisting him and find it very rewarding once a job is completed. My mother would like me to study medicine so we will see what happens,” she said.
Ian Lamula from Seaview, while slightly more reserved and a bit shy, is raring to go as he has already applied to UKZN and is waiting for his June results to send to the university.
An avid chess player, Ian is keen to pursue a career in medicine with aspirations of becoming a surgeon. Ian’s main subjects are maths and physical science and he loves working in the science lab any chance he gets.
“I am part of a group of learners who call ourselves the “Phambili Support Group”. We are a group of friends and like-minded learners who work after school on projects involving life science, maths and physical science. We are very competitive between ourselves and we have internal competitions to push each other in our studies. I am of the belief that studying maths and science is not about intelligence but rather about hard work and dedication. The more you study and apply yourself, commendable results will follow. As students we are also impressed at the improvement of many learners due to the science lab and library.”
Head of Department for maths, science and technology, Zandile Langa B.ed(Hons) is also a Phambili fan. Zandile has been HOD at Phambili since 2014 and has seen excellent results and is proud to be a part of the ethos of Phambili High School.
In 2015 NPC/Intercement funded Phambili High School.
At the time the school was in need of assistance, but was a school that most corporate funders would shy away from due to the fact that many of the learners had been expelled from ‘good’ schools for poor performance or issues such as violence and substance abuse.
NPC funded the setting up of a new library and science laboratory and as a direct result of this intervention, there has been a positive turnaround at Phambili High School, not only in learner performance but other funders now see value in investing in this school.
Smangele Tshabalala, transformation manager at NPC/ Intercement said, “It is encouraging to see improvements in learner outcomes at Phambili. Our company took a risk and funded this school when it was not performing well because we believed every child has potential. All they needed was a conducive environment to facilitate teaching and learning. Congratulations to the learners, the parents, the teachers and management of Phambili for your hard work and partnership.”
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