A Khayelitsha-based non governmental organisation, Emagqabini Education Academy, has advised high school pupils to start for matric preparing early in their school careers.
On Friday January 12, the academy teamed up with the Khayelitsha library to talk to pupils about the importance of education and basics of education.
The academy urged the pupils to be part of its tutoring and teaching programmes.
It said it was important to start preparing for matric already from grades 8 through to grade 10.
Co-founder Cindy Mkaza-Siboto said they needed to start with tutoring early.
“With Grade 12 we have teachers who take them because we have realised that most do not have basics.
But with the lower grades we can tutor them because they will have questions and we deal with that.
“The advantage with the lower grades is that we can go with them through to Grade 12.
“We put more emphasis on them to join the classes as early as possible,” she said.
With limited spaces at the academy, Ms Mkaza-Siboto urged the pupils to take advantage of the opportunities they have.
“We want to mould and discipline them in time.
“The programme has teachers all over the place, and as far as Gauteng. We also use the latest technology to interact with those who are far away. We not only tutor and teach them, but we also have book clubs and extra-mural activities that they can be part of.
The challenge is that we take 25 pupils from our Future Igniter programmes (Grade 11 and 12s). “That is why we urge them to apply as early as possible,” said Ms Mkaza-Siboto. The academy has two branches in Site B and Site C, with 20 and 60 pupils respectively.
Meanwhile, Equal Education (EE) in Khayelitsha is encouraging the pupils to apply for volunteering opportunities and full-time jobs at the organisation.
The advocacy group said it had opportunities to keep pupils busy. The organisation, which advocates for quality and equality in the South African education system, said there were internships and other programmes pupils could take advantage of.
Junior co-ordinator for the EE, Sibusiso Nkosi, encouraged pupils to apply for part time and volunteering positions and not just sit at home.
Another EE member, Sindisa Monakali, said they wanted to produce active citizens.
Vuyokazi Rani-Njambatwa, senior librarian at the Khayelitsha Library, said the library has the responsibility to show young people education opportunities.
She said she was happy that people showed faith in the library. She encouraged young people to join the library, saying it had information for both oung and old.
