Matric learners from some previously disadvantaged schools in KwaZulu-Natal are holding overnight cram sessions to help prepare for their finals in 10 days.
Pupils at Sikhethuxolo High School and Albini Girls High in Hammarsdale, near Pietermaritzburg, are cross-nighting, a concept of burning the midnight oil to revise through past papers in preparation for exams which start on October 21.
The initiative is driven by teachers who are willing to volunteer their time to pupils who want to perform at their optimum in subjects which are a challenge.
Pupils say they are optimistic the overnight classes, the last of which will be conducted on Friday and Saturday night, will help them.
One of the pupils at Sikhethuxolo High said he was struggling with mathematics before he started the all-night learning sessions with other pupils.
“There is a huge difference in my understanding of mathematics after I started studying overnight with my friends,” he said.
The pupils typically revise from Friday evening until Saturday morning, go home and return on Saturday evening until Sunday morning.
An Albini Girls High pupil told TimesLIVE Premium said she is “more ready” for the exams.
“Studying overnight has helped me a lot, and I have no doubt I will pass, not just pass but with flying colours,’’ she said.
A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to the media, said cross-nighting is not a programme of the department but an initiative of the school itself.
He said cross-nighting has occurred at his school for several years to with great success.
“Learners benefit from the programme because in most cases teachers who help them are experts and are committed to help the matric pupils do their best,” he said.
Sikhethuxolo started the cross-nighting programme this year after they saw the success of a nearby school, Albini Girls High, which began the programme some time ago.
The school last year achieved a 61.9% pass rate while Albini Girls High recorded 91%.
Thuli Mkhize, a parent of a matric learner at Sikhethuxolo High, said she is positive her daughter would make her proud.
“My daughter is working very hard and I have no doubt that she is going to do well in her studies,’’ she said.
Another parent, Thami Khomo, said they supported the programme and appreciated the positive impact on learners.
“Schools who are doing cross-nighting in the area are doing well and others who were not doing the programme are now following suit,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said they were encouraged to see learners going the extra mile to succeed.
“This shows a huge dedication on the part of learners, leaving behind all destructive things to attend to their studies,” said Mahlambi.
Mahlambi said cross-nighting was not an official department programme, but they supported such an initiative as it benefited the pupils.
He said the department hosted Winter Classes.
“Our winter tuition, which started on June 26, facilitates effective curriculum coverage for both teachers and learners so that all schools complete the syllabus by August 30,” he said.
Mahlambi said the department's winter camps accommodated 98,975 learners in more than a thousand winter school centres.
“As the department, we also had spring boot camps where learners were given extra tuition especially in the subject areas that were identified as giving learners some challenges,’’ he said.
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