Boksburg boy (15) completes matric thanks to ‘study at your own pace’ curriculum

Altheone Loste, a learner from Destiny Christian Academy in Boksburg, completed his matric at the age of 15, making him the youngest learner in the school’s history to reach this milestone.

According to the principal of the school, Sandi Moodley, SwitchedOn Education’s curriculum, which provides an interactive online dashboard, allows learners to set goals and complete their studies at their own pace.

“The system is designed to let learners progress more quickly if they grasp concepts with ease and work consistently towards their targets.

“He showed exceptional discipline and commitment, working ahead of the average pace from an early stage,” Moodley said.

Moodley said Altheone began his educational journey with the Accelerated Enterprise Education (AEE) curriculum, formerly known as Accelerated Christian Education (ACE), from Grade 3.

“This curriculum, also self-paced, enabled him to work through workbooks, setting daily goals and steadily surpassing the requirements of each academic year.

“By Grade 7, he had accelerated so much that he was able to complete grades seven and eight within a single year.”

“By Grade 10 he was already tackling several Grade 11 subjects, and by Grade 12, which he did this year, [he] completed the curriculum in just six months.”

The principal boasted that he achieved seven distinctions out of the eight subjects he studied.

“Unlike traditional schools that rely on timed exams, we employ continuous assessments, allowing learners to show their understanding consistently.

“Notably, his final examinations were conducted at the school under the supervision of teachers,” said Moodley.

Altheone thanked his family, teachers and faith for helping him navigate the curriculum’s high standards, which require a minimum of 70% to pass each subject.

Reflecting on his journey, Altheone shared, “Nothing distracted me; I kept pushing. It was my dream and goal to complete my studies early.

“It wasn’t easy, but with the support of my parents and teachers, I managed to overcome the challenges.”

“Achieving this at such a young age feels incredible, and I’m proud of myself,” he added.

Altheone said he wants to pursue a career in software engineering.