Matric dreams come true
Two pupils from Mandisa Shiceka High School in Kagiso made several sacrifices to obtain very good matric results.
A pact between friends in their Grade 10 year finally paid off.
Now, two years on, Katlego Mokagane and Muzi Lukhuleni smile broadly after matriculated from Mandisa Shiceka High School in Kagiso with four and two distinctions respectively.
“Academically I did not perform well in Grade 10,” said Mokagane.
“But that changed when I met Muzi who encouraged me to study. We agreed that from Grade 11 onwards we would put in everything to do our utmost best.”
They formed a study group and together with other pupils they studied until late at night.
“This has helped us tremendously as we were able to share ideas and help each other with work we did not understand fully,” explained Mokagane, who wants to study towards an actuarial science degree.
Lukhuleni said his teachers motivated him to be successful.
“I was at Johannesburg Park Station after returning from Durban when I received the news that I had passed.”
He said he was quite emotional when he opened the newspaper and saw he had passed with good grades.
“I thank my teachers who believed in me and who have shown us that it is worth all the hard work and effort when we perform at our best.”
Lukhuleni indicated that he will be studying towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pretoria.
Both Mokagane and Lukhuleni said the past year was a very difficult journey as they had to make several sacrifices, such as having no social life.
Dr Vathukattu Joseph, school principal said their success should serve as motivation to this year’s matriculants.
“It just shows what commitment does – what you put in is what you will be getting in return.”
He explained how the past year was a challenge but the collective effort by teachers, school managers and the school governing body lessened the burden tremendously.
“Unfortunately our parents were not as supportive and that we need to change because parents need to provide the basis of their child’s education.”
The school boasts a 99,11 per cent pass rate, the best since Joseph took office as principal late in 1998. At the time the school had a pass rate of only 13 per cent. In the years since his appointment the pass rate increased dramatically with only two pupils failing in 2014.
“We only can work harder this year to achieve our goals,” he concluded.
