Grade 2 pupil Mbali achieves full marks

ED-U College Primary School pupil Mbali Nguta was recognised at the school's prize-giving ceremony this week for achieving a 100% pass mark in her Annual National Assessments (ANA) exams.

Grade 2 pupil Mbali, 8, received a full academic bursary for next year as a reward for her academic excellence.

She is hoping to pursue a career as a doctor in the future.

"I am so excited as this is truly a dream come true. I love helping people and hate seeing them suffer – so becoming a doctor has always been my dream," Mbali said.

Her mother, Veliswa, said her daughter had always had a passion for schoolwork and did not believe in failing.

"She could not contain her excitement last night [at the prize-giving] and as her mother I truly am proud of her achievements. She loves seeing other people prosper and is currently teaching her three-year-old brother to speak English."

E-Square Enterprises, run by Lilian Niemann, consists of Ed-U College, Ed-U Academy and Ed-U Varsity, and although they differ in their pupil or student base and programmes, they share the same goals.

Niemann said she agreed with former president Nelson Mandela that "education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world".

"My dream was to make a difference to education for pupils from rural areas. Therefore, I started the Saturday school teaching maths, English and science way back in 1994.

"It is with great gratitude that I can say that after 20 years in private education in the Eastern Cape and despite numerous setbacks and many accomplishments, the E-Square Enterprises Group had made a difference and provided quality education to more than 34000 learners, students and adults." - Chanice Koopman