Hoërskool Jan de Klerk needs to only say one word after two of their pupils were selected as top achievers in a national debating competition.
Proud!
Two extraordinary pupils from the school ranked first and fifth at the South African Debating Championships which was held at Stellenbosch University last year December.
“Something phenomenal happened during the December holidays. Two pupils, Kanyisile Molefe and Aniki Matse, performed miracles at the championships,” said Bernita van Aardt from Jan de Klerk.
Kanyisile has also since been selected for South African Junior Team trials.
The two have made history by being the first debaters in the West Rand to be ranked in the top 10 in National Schools Debating Championships.
It was however not an easy ride, recalls Van Aardt.
“The first challenge was the grueling Gauteng Schools Debating Board Provincial Championships where they impressed the selectors and were invited to Gauteng Trials.”
The two girls regarded the Gauteng Trials as the toughest stage of the selection process due to the depth of talent in the province.
“Their diligence, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, fighting spirit and insatiable desire to learn enabled them to make it into the Provincial Team.”
After making it into the Provincial Team Kanyisile and Aniki had to undergo two months of intense training in preparation for championships.
“They wrapped up a fantastic year of debating in style,” boasts Van Aart.
