With mid-year exams looming, Grade 11 and 12 pupils in New Brighton were taught exam and study techniques in the first of a series of workshops to assist them in excelling academically.
The workshop, on Saturday, was organised by the Thapelo Kuze Foundation.
“It is easy to learn theory,” Kuze, who funds these workshops from his own salary, said.
“The problem is that writing an exam is a technique and these techniques are not taught at school.”
Kuze’s foundation already offers mentoring and assistance to pupils in maths, accounting, physics, business studies and English.The workshop is part of the New Brighton-born chartered accountant’s dream to transform the education sector.
“I only learnt how to write an exam at university,” he said. “I know how it is to have to cope without any of these resources.
“This is why I do this – otherwise we will end up with a society without leaders.
“Our high school learners need opportunities like this,” he said.
Awethu Mkete, 20, who is in the second year of a B Ed degree specialising in the teaching of maths and physical science and who presented part of the workshop, said he was delighted to be part of the initiative.
“Pupils need opportunities like this. We also discussed motivation and how to have confidence in your abilities,” he said.
Onela Manana, 17, president of the Thapelo Kuze Foundation learners’ executive committee, has already applied to study nursing next year and was one of the pupils who attended the workshop.
Manana said she believed the workshop had been very successful.
“I learnt a lot. Many people don’t have the right attitude towards studying.
“It helped to learn about motivation too. I am ready for the exams,” she said.
The workshop had come just at the right time, she said, as they were preparing to write mathematics and physical science.