“She’s a good, well-mannered pupil ... and I know she’s going to make it.”
Winterveldt schoolteacher Daisy Rakumakoe went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure one of her top performing pupils was able to complete her matric exams shortly after giving birth.
Rakumakoe not only managed to convince Dr Sam Motsuenyane Comprehensive School officials and hospital staff at Odi hospital in Mabopane, Tshwane, to allow the young mother to write her Setswana paper two exam from her hospital bed, but also her accounting exam the day after.
Last week, Vanessa Maphaha, was able to return to school to complete her remaining exams — Setswana and English papers three — and is a step closer to her dream of becoming a financial analyst.
On Monday last week, Rakumakoe noticed Vanessa’s absence from a revision session held via WhatsApp before the Setswana paper two exam written on Tuesday last week.
The worried teacher contacted the pupil’s mother Malindi Maphaha to investigate the matter. Malindi was at work at the time but promised to put the 17-year-old pupil in touch with Rakumakoe as soon as she got home.
“When her mother got back to me, she informed me that Vanessa was going into labour and they were taking her to the local clinic.
“I became frustrated. The next morning, she called me and told me Vanessa had given birth to a baby boy.”
Rakumakoe’s refusal to let her top pupil miss her exams saw her scramble to ensure the new mother was able to write the morning paper.
She spoke to the school principal, who in turn alerted district officials to arrange for the paper and an invigilator to be taken to Vanessa at Odi hospital, where she successfully completed the exam. Rakumakoe hailed both for their positive response and eagerness to assist.
A day later, the same arrangement was made to allow Vanessa to write her accounting paper two — this time with Rakumakoe standing in as invigilator. Vanessa had to stay in hospital a day longer due to issues with the baby’s blood pressure.
“She’s a good, well-mannered pupil, and I felt that if she didn’t write now she’d have to write supplementary exams next year. I know she’s going to make it,” a proud Rakumakoe said.
“If she can at least complete grade 12 and go further she can help improve the situation at home,” she said.
Vanessa and Malindi lauded the teacher for the role she played in ensuring the young mother completed her exams.
Both recalled the previous week’s ordeal and the fear that the young mother would miss the exams.
“I was so scared ... thinking that I’d have to write supplementary exams next year. But in the end I was able to write,” Vanessa told Sunday Times Daily with a nervous chuckle.
Figures for national deliveries in facilities by the department of health recently revealed that 132,612 girls aged 15 to 19 fell pregnant in 2020 and a further 35,209 between January and March this year. A shocking 3,774 girls aged 10 to 14 fell pregnant last year and 1,053 in the first three months of this year.
Earlier this year, cabinet approved a policy to help prevent teenage pregnancies.
* Vanessa's mother granted permission for her to be identified in this story
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