Rural girl aces Gr 12, nets 7 distinctions
Coming from a rural school did not keep Masungulo Maluleke (17) from working hard to achieve her dreams of acing matric.
LIMPOPO – The hardworking girl from Phaphazela attended Ximunwani High School and attained seven distinctions.
This accomplishment landed her a spot as one of the top 30 matric learners in Limpopo and she was invited to the provincial results announcement on Friday, 5 January. She was awarded a laptop, certificate and trophy during the ceremony.
To congratulate her on her achievement, the school had arranged a surprise party for her the same day.
Addressing people at the school, she said there was no guessing involved in how she managed to get seven distinctions.
“Everybody knows how I succeeded. I was always reading books and even some of my friends found it difficult to be with me because it meant reading books,” she laughed.
Masungulo is from an impoverished background as no one in her family is employed yet she has sent the school and rural community into frenzy when she obtained distinctions in physical science, mathematics, geography, life orientation, Xitsonga, English and life science.
Masungulo (her name means the first) was praised for being the first in the community and the school for achieving such a feat.
Ximunwani High School Principal, Eric Baloyi, said she put the school on the map and they were considering starting a hall of fame at the school where they will inscribe her name in either gold or silver to inspire other learners to work hard in their studies so they can have their names in the hall of fame as well.
“We also thank her granny, Noria Sombhane, who despite not having gone to school herself was the tower of strength behind her granddaughter.
She used to come to school to collect the awards for Masungulo,” Baloyi said, describing her as disciplined, reserved, respectful and a hard worker.
The school’s Deputy Principal, Noel Manganyi who teaches physical science in which Masungulo achieved 98%, said had she failed to get distinctions in any of the subjects, the blame would be laid at the door of the school.
Masungulo’s grandmother, Noria Sombhane, said she was elated that she was not distracted by the poor background at home.
The high achiever said she is heading to the University of Cape Town to study chemical engineering.
Ximunwana achieved a 67,2% pass rate after 122 candidates sat for the exam.
Altogether 30 of the school’s matric candidates received bachelor passes, 28 received diploma passes and 82 received certificate passes.
