Star Schools top pupils get sweet rewards for giving up their Saturdays
The brightest academic stars in nine Nkomazi schools were recognised for their excellent performances during the year at the Star Schools awards ceremony last Saturday.
KAMHLUSHWA – Star Schools is a programme sponsored by RCL Foods, which aims to provide grade 10 to 12 learners in several schools across Nkomazi with extra classes in maths, science and English on Saturdays.
This has proven very fruitful, as many alumni were among the top matric achievers in the province and country.
READ: Star Schools recognises top matric achievers
This year’s top achievers in each subject and grade, as well as parents and teachers, were invited to attend the year-end ceremony at Sidlamafa Secondary in KaMhlushwa on October 20.
The morning started off in inspirational fashion, as two of the pupils led the group in beautiful hymns.
Programme director Zweli Mpapane, the principal of Sikhwahlane Secondary, taught the learners the four cornerstones of success:
• Say it – keep to your word, show determination
• Do it – work hard, be diligent
• Receive it – enjoy the rewards of your good work
• Tell it – share your expertise and advice to help others.
Mpapane urged the learners to move with Christ, work hard and be diligent. “I have confidence that you will make a positive difference, not only in the country, but the world,” he stated.
RCL Foods’ Derek van Niekerk also inspired the learners by informing them that among the alumni, there were 110 engineers, 25 scientists (including a nuclear scientist) and 44 medical professionals.
Since they started sponsoring the programme in 2006, there has been a 99,3 per cent pass rate among the 600 alumni.
READ: Tips to keep matrics on track during the final exams
The programme also helps the wider student body, as many of the participants share their study materials with friends.
Kenneth Phiri, also of RCL Foods, urged learners to apply for universities and bursaries. He shared his frustrations over wasted opportunities when learners don’t complete their bursary application forms or don’t attend interviews.
During the prize-giving portion of the event, learners were rewarded with certificates, trophies and Selati sugar hampers.
The overall top achievers were Qinisile Tibane (grade 10), Simon Thobela (grade 11) and Almo Mbalati (grade 12).
The top achievers in the three subjects in each grade were:
Grade 10 – Siphesihle Ndlangamandla (maths), Qinisile Tibane (science) and Nonjabulo Zwane (English).
Grade 11 – Judith Thobela (maths), Collen Mgomane (science) and Nelisiwe Ngwenyama (English).
Grade 12 – Tariro Zinzira (maths), Almo Mbalati (science and English).
Learners who had shown the most improvement were also rewarded.
The last speaker of the day was Dr Nomcebo Ngomane, an alumnus who studied medicine in China. She inspired the learners with stories of her travels and successes and shared ways to avoid the pitfalls and challenges she experienced.
