Johannesburg - Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy has challenged Grade 10 learners to aim high and push themselves in order to qualify for a university entrance.
On Wednesday, Creecy visited the Secondary Schools Intervention Programme (SSIP) centre, which is used as a holiday site, where Grade 10 and 11 learners attend extra classes at Eqinisweni Secondary School.
About 650 learners from Eqinisweni, Tsosoloso, Ponelong Oracle, Umqhela and Kaalfontein Secondary Schools are attending extra classes in Mathematics, Physical Science and Accounting.
These schools obtained in 2011 matric pass rates of 79%, 94%, 67% and 78% respectively. Kaalfontein will be writing matric for the first time this year.
Creecy visited the site to encourage and support learners to stick to the particular subjects as they offer more work opportunities in various skills most needed by the country.
Creecy acknowledged that most learners were afraid to take these three subjects because they were afraid to fail, but she encouraged learners to tell their peers to take them as the province provides such classes to make sure that they pass the subjects.
"If you know people from younger grades, tell them they can do it because these centres are here to help them, also encourage other learners doing these subjects to attend these classes, because we've found that most learners don't join the camps during the holidays." Creecy told learners.
She further challenged learners to work hard and do well in their exams as she would like to see them in Grade 12 in 2014.
"It's important to aim high if you want to go to the university. We want As and Bs in these subjects not Cs and Ds, you must push."
The department has expanded the SSIP to Grade 10 and 11, in addition to providing Grade 12 learners with supplementary tuition programme using highly qualified teachers.
This intervention includes a holiday programme and camps in ten high risk subjects. Most learners shared with Creecy their future goals, with most of them saying they wanted to do pursue studies in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, some wanted to be Scientists and Pilots.
Creecy will on Monday visit the SSIP for Grade 12 learners, who will start their final exams on 22 October 2012.
Eqinisweni Secondary School principal, Jabulani Kunene noted that most girls were now doing Maths and Science.
