Plea for learning as matric exams loom

Lopang Phuduhudu has not attended class since June 5 but he will not allow this to kill off his dream of becoming an engineer.

The 18-year-old from Moshaweng High School in Loopeng village, outside Kuruman in the Northern Cape, is burning the midnight oil despite not having been taught in class for over a month.

The school boycott driven by parents seems set to continue indefinitely.

"Why do they have to close the schools whenever they protest? What makes us sad and angry at the same time is that parents decided to shut down the school and stop us from getting educated. They don't consider the fact that they are violating our rights," said Phuduhudu.

He is among only a handful of pupils brave enough to voice their dissatisfaction at the boycott. Few parents at public meetings have allowed pupils to have a say.

Phuduhudu said his 21-year-old sister, Baitshepi, with whom he lives, did not support the actions of the parents.

"We are pleading with parents to open the schools. By closing the schools, they are stopping us from getting educated; they are stopping us from achieving our dreams."

His classmate, Rebaone Pitsonyane, 18, became very emotional when asked about the boycott. "It's very painful for me not being at school but my mother always tries to encourage me to study at home. But sometimes it's tough for me to understand some of the things I am studying and I need a teacher to explain it to me."

Said Pitsonyane: "I feel so miserable not going to school because education has always been my priority. We are struggling at home and I was hoping to give my family a better future after I pass matric."

She was planning to study civil engineering at university next year but has resigned herself to the fact that she may not get a place. "We have not written the June exams and they need these results," she said.

Sydney Stander, a spokesman for the Northern Cape department of education, has ruled out the possibility of holding a special camp for the affected matriculants because of budgetary constraints.

The John Taolo Gaetsewe district has consistently produced the worst matric results out of the five districts in the province over several years. The district achieved a 63.5% matric pass rate in 2012 and 71.1% last year.