By Siphesihle Msweli
Thulani Ntokozo did not regret watching his friends leave him behind to study at university. Ntokozo (21) had passed his matric year at Tholokuhle Senior Secondary School in Enseleni, Richards Bay, in 2020 with only 26 academic points – too low to apply for a degree in law.
But all was not lost. In 2021, over 95 000 students wrote their National Senior Certificate exams again under the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Programme. Ntokozo was one of them.
Question: What motivated you to return to school?
Answer: My geography teacher used to say: “Aim for the moon. Even if you fall, you will be among the stars.” That pushed me. …I wanted to be a lawyer and my APS (was) not allowing me to (do so). I knew (that)… staying at home waiting for the following year to apply with the same result might not be a good idea since my APS (was) not even 30. So, I told myself that I will become an advocate maybe not in four years’…but one day. Knowing what I wanted motivated me to (return) to school.
Question: Returning to school is not an easy thing, especially after matric. What were some of your challenges?
Answer: I did not encounter as much challenges as I expected. …changing schools helped me a bit. The first day as a (new) student was hard because I did not know anyone and the whole class knew each other. I felt like an outcast but as time went by, I started to gel with other learners. Gelling with other learners was the least of my worries. I was afraid of how the teachers would treat me as a new learner joining grade 12.
Question: What helped you manage and adapt in your return?
Answer: I made sure to manage my time. It was not hard because I knew what I needed to change for better result. I made it my mission to ask questions during lessons and do work on time to avoid unnecessary mistakes. Whenever I was not (busy), I (would) engage with other learners to get to know them and (help them) to…know me. It was a good experience.
Question: After going back to high school, how was your relationship with your friends and family?
Answer: Before the release of the result my friends had an agreement that whoever scores less than 30 points must go back to school. We were a group of seven and three of us had to go back to school. They were very supportive because we all want what is best for one another. My parents were also supportive. Their words were: “Whatever decision you take we support it.” But my siblings thought I was wasting time and by going back while I (could still) apply at colleges (to) study.
Question: Had you not returned to school, where do you think you would be?
Answer: Whichever route I would have taken was going to lead me back to school. I believe in education. I believe in knowledge. Maybe I would have ended up in the police academy or college, as my sibling suggested doing anything that has to do with law and justice.
Question: What advice can you give to someone who wants to go back to school?
“Go to school, fix your matric or finish your matric and go to university …or the college of your choice. Do not let (others) drag you down with them.”
Answer: It is never too late to go back to school and get what is rightfully yours. When you go back to school, remind yourself with every chance you get, as to why (you) went back. Do not allow people or your peers to tell you otherwise. Go to school, fix your matric or finish your matric and go to university …or the college of your choice. Do not let (others) drag you down with them. It will not always be roses but keep your eyes (on) the prize. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to those who you know understand (the work) better than you. At school, be an active learner participating in activities. Ask the teacher if you do not understand something for better understanding. Do not just engage in your books. Give yourself time to breath and relax.
Ntokozo matriculated with 35 APS points. He is now an Urban and Regional Planning student at the University of Johannesburg. Matriculants who want to improve their matric results can visit the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Programme’s website for more information: https://www.education.gov.za/secondchance/
Article provided courtesy of the Khulani! Youth Journalism project
Image: SABC.
