DURBAN - SOME KwaZulu-Natal matric pupils, speaking ahead of their National Senior Certificate three-hour physical science paper 2 on Monday, said while they felt prepared for the exam, they were expecting it to be difficult.
Grade 12 Star College pupil Aditi Sookdhaw, 18, from Reservoir Hills, said she felt sufficiently prepared for the paper.
“I am expecting it to be difficult because our previous physics paper was relatively easy for me. I am expecting to find some challenging questions because that’s what physics is about.
“I used textbook activities to help with preparation, and previous question papers. This assisted me to deal with procrastination in the early stages of studying because I was not reading the whole book from scratch, but practising to answer questions properly,” she said.
Fellow Star College Grade 12 pupil Teola Subramoney, 18, from Kloof, felt she was prepared for the paper. However, she too said she was expecting it to be challenging.
“I think I am fairly ready for the physics paper 2 exam because I have practised and prepared myself using a number of past papers. I am expecting to find a few challenging questions to fully test our knowledge but I hope the paper would not be very challenging. At the same time, I do feel confident about the paper because I think the amount of time given is sufficient,” she said.
Phendukani High School principal Vincent Mkhonza said their science department has prepared their pupils to be equipped for the exam.
“We improvised structured revisions on weekends and holidays to help pupils who could not keep up with the syllabus during the pandemic as well as those who were sick. This required us to call parents into a meeting to ask them to relieve their children of domestic duties.”
Mkhonza said the planning process was a team effort that included motivational speakers and former pupils who have faced difficulties in their careers.
Since 2012, the school has been a full-service school, admitting pupils who are able-bodied, disabled and those who have learning difficulties.
Vukuzakhe High School principal Bheki Mhlongo said preparing their pupils was a crucial component of striving towards excellence in matric exams.
“Knowing the pandemic would continue, we took the current Grade 12 pupils through the introductory chapters of science subjects in Grade 11 and managed to finish the syllabus in July. As a result, it gave our pupils ample time to do revisions and prepare for trials which gave us a picture of what to expect in the final exams results.
“The teachers were professional in coaching them through the guidelines for exams, which makes us expect something close to 95%-100%,” Mhlongo said.
Meanwhile, Vukuzakhe High School emerged victorious in the Sasko four-aside soccer tournament, which was held at uMlazi Mega City at the weekend. The school walked away with a cash prize of R5 000 after competing against 14 schools and 98 pupils from Durban.
Sasko marketing manager Jackie Pillay said the tournament was aimed at promoting sports-based youth development.
“Play and sport is such an important part of how children and youth learn and grow. Of course, soccer is more than just a sport in South Africa – it is a way of bringing communities together.”
Daily News