My personal journey

August 05, 2015

My personal journey

MY FINAL SCHOOL YEAR AT KWAMANALA SECONDARY SCHOOL, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

The beginning of my journey…
My journey began when i was doing matric. I matriculated in the year 2014 at KwaManala Secondary School and I was 17 years old at that time.

My matriculating subjects were:

· Physical sciences

· Life sciences

· Geography

· Mathematics

· IsiNdebele Home Language

· English First Additional Language

· Life Orientation

A smile just pops up my face every time I think back to my matric year. I have to admit, it was the best year of all my schooling years… I matriculated in 2014 at a school called KwaManala secondary school which is registered under Nkangala district in the Mpumalanga province. It is located just on the edge of a village called Allemansdrift C which is currently known as Maphanga. The school is situated near the bush and Rhenosterkop dam also known as Mkhombo dam and Moutse dam. The school did not have many advanced learning resources so we made the most of what we had. Our teachers had to teach us using chalks, chalkboards, previous question papers and textbooks (prescribed textbooks). Which was hard for them because in most cases they had to verbally describe and teach what they should be showing us digitally as we had no computers but we there was a computer lab e.g. describing how bacteria multiplies verbally instead of showing videos or images of good quality.

The school has a science laboratory but it is not equipped, there are no microscopes or apparatus for experiments. There is a kitchen for consumer studies learners to cook but there are no ingredients, one has to raise funds for anything to happen. Sometimes the teachers use their own money to get the resources that will help us understand best. We had to form study groups to practice what were taught every afternoon and night.

Besides all the conditions, my matriculating year at that school was very hectic but also very pleasant and fun at the same time. If I am to be given a chance to go back in time to change my matriculating school, I would not even dare to think of it. I had the best teachers in matric so I don’t regret or question any moment of their teaching time with me. I mean in KwaManala we strive for excellence! What more can I ask for? I had the best and intelligent peers that i call my friends on my side ( THE SUPER10), my family and my teachers...

We had very good leaders and we were provided with the best support structure that supported us and accompanied us till the last exam that year. “Your life begins in matric, perform at your level best and you shall succeed...never gamble with your future” Mr M.S SEKGALLELO. “A minute missed in matric is a minute wasted in your life. Treasure every minute in your matric for you never know which one will open the doors for you.” Mr Z.A MALEKA, our principal.

Comparing the impact of the resources that I am currently using in the university with what we used at our school, I have to say that our teachers are indeed the best. They produced the best quality of students without the impact of technology but using their bare hands and passion to teach. I say this because in most if not every university in our country there is a product of KwaManala. In spite of everything and the school being situated in a developing village where the parents in the village don’t really impact the school in any way, where there are a number of serious crimes reported in the village which include break-ins at homes and at the schools, rape and assault charges and high unemployment rates… I still think KwaManala is the best school to matriculate in!

I salute the support i got from my friends(Supers), my teachers at the moment and my family because they built my confidence and stuck around when the matric seat got hotter.

I can conclude by saying that my final school year at KwaManala Secondary School made me respect the job done by teachers and their significance in the lives of the learners they teach. Even though we never had the best resources, developed village and involved/caring community members in our school, this school rendered the best services. For that, I will carry on the legacy of striving for excellence.

KwaManala Secondary School-Deus Omnia Rigid, God Rules All

pictures with memoirs, the school, community and the science matriculants 2014

SUPER10-CLASS OF 2014