Pupils’ bright-eyed idea pays dividends

[caption id="attachment_93834" align="alignright" width="300"] TEAM WORK: Pupils Pamela Malanga, Kamvalethu Rengqe and Uyanda Makwayi in front of empty library shelves which will be stocked soon. Picture: TREMAINE VAN AARDT[/caption]

EARLY birds famously catch the worm – and for a group of Uitenhage pupils who have virtually eliminated late-coming among schoolmates – they have also captured national recognition.

Thanks to the discipline and leadership shown by five Solomon Mahlangu High School pupils, they returned home from Parys at the weekend R10 000 richer after claiming top honours at the national Youth Action Citizens Programme.

The stop-late-coming initiative was the brainchild of Grade 10 pupils Pamela Malanga, 22, Siviwe Kaleni, 17, Kamvalethu Rengqe, 15, Uyanda Makwayi, 15, and Aqamile Mancapa, 15.

The move by Grade 10 pupils Pamela Malanga, 22, Siviwe Kaleni, 17, Kamvalethu Rengqe, 15, Uyanda Makwayi, 15, and Aqamile Mancapa, 15 to lock the school gates promptly at 8am daily and reward punctual pupils with membership to the Early Bird Club, has seen them almost completely eliminate late arrivals at school.

The initiative trumped eight other entries, with each representing the nine provinces.

The prize money will be used to stock the school library.

“The implementation of the project has made a huge difference,” school principal Mncedi Mtengwana said.

“The percentage of late-coming dropped by 31% in February and 87% the following month. The school has virtually eliminated the problem completely now.”

-Tremaine van Aardt