MASIBEKELA – Mdzabu Secondary School’s grade twelves got to experience the different characters from the siSwati books Kwahlwa emini and Kubamba letingelako on Monday morning, as the Maqhawe theatre group did dramatisations.
Afterwards group members asked the matrics what they had learned.
The aim was to give them a gist, better understanding and real experience to incorporate what they had learned in class in order to improve their results.
“Them being here has helped me a lot because I did not know some of the things well. Even those who got lower marks, I think they will improve them. As we have seen the visuals, it won’t be easy for me to forget as I am going to write the exam,” said Nomthandazo Masango.
“It has given me clarity because when we study in class we don’t have visuals. When I go and write it will be easy for me to remember because I saw the images,” said Thandolwethu Mabuza.
The school is hoping for an improvement in the siSwati exam, especially because it is a mother tongue. “The pupils were doing well in class, I think with what they have seen, their results will improve even for those who did not understand,” said a siSwati teacher.
“We are expecting an improvement in results. We want to give them our best. The teacher has taught in class, we want them to see the positive results,” said Ms Christinah Ngomane, the deputy principal.
“We want the children to be proud of their mother tongue.”
“We know that if you have failed siSwati, no matter whether you have passed the other subjects, you will still fail. We are aware that they are from different backgrounds, some have to earn a living and don’t get enough time to study, and sometimes the schools have too few textbooks. Some are slow pupils, so if we visualise the learning material it makes things easier for them and improves their results,” said Mr Johannes Msomi, Maqhawe group director.
