Matrics pledge to fly the school flag high
Matrics from Mjokwane Secondary School joined others from across the province in pledging to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity during the year-end exams.
NAAS – With the 2016 matric exams commencing on Monday, the MEC for education, Reginah Mhaule, hoped to encourage pupils at Mjokwane Secondary School, as well as throughout the province, to do their best.
The MEC, her dignitaries and Miss Mpumalanga 2016, Elaine Mkhabela, were warmly welcomed by the school’s pupils and staff, when they came for a visit last Friday.
The pass rate for the school’s class of 2015 dropped from 97,98 per cent of2014 to 87, 54 per cent, but the MEC stated that she believed this year’s matrics could take up the baton and increase the percentage once again.
“As the Mpumalanga Department of Education, we have faith in your abilities to reach the milestone, thus we are here to offer support a to all grade 12 pupils in the province,” she said.
According to the MEC, signing the pledge has caused an increase in the level and dignity of examinations.
Mhaule urged pupils to desist from any act of dishonesty and misconduct and to heed the rules and instructions applicable to writing the National Senior Certificate for a credible examination process.
“Our main goal is to re-enforce those rules and regulations by urging you to conduct yourself with honesty and integrity through the signing of the National Senior Certificate pledge. This pledge serves as a contract of your conscience,” the MEC said.
She went on to thank teachers and requested communities to create an enabling environment and to support in their efforts to fulfil their dreams and aspirations after secondary schooling. She also encouraged the members of the community, parents and religious leaders to motivate their children and give them the necessary time and space to study until their last day of examination.
Mhaule advised the pupils to effectively and efficiently utilise the given time and space to study and maximise their knowledge and ability.
“The department will continue to offer support programmes such as radio lessons, weekend classes and DStv channel 319,” she added.
The pledge was read out and signed by the pupils’ representative council members, Nkosiyethu Mashaba (20), and Sindi Dhlamini (17) on behalf of matriculants in the area. Mashaba said he felt proud to represent local matrics and is ready, but also nervous about the upcoming exams.
Dhlamini felt honoured and said everything she had been working towards for the past 12 years, had finally arrived. She said she was ready in some of her subjects, but felt a great deal of pressure, as the next exams would determine her future.
“I feel motivated because the MEC chose our school, even after the drop in the results last year. It inspires us to do better and she is expecting a lot from us,” said the grade 12 pupil.
The MEC pledged that they would replace the roofing in the schools that were affected by the storm in Nkomazi, including Mjokwane.(Read more about the storm here.)
Mhaule also handed out sanitary towels to girls, saying she did not want girls missing their exams because of their periods.
She concluded the event with a prayer for strength for all of the matrics in the upcoming events.
