Over the past three years the Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship Programme has steadily been making inroads in its mandate to add value to the underprivileged top performing learners by rewarding their great academic efforts with resources that will allow them to maximise their potential.
In its fourth year since its inception, the Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship Programme is once again elated with the outstanding performances of the most recent crop of scholarship recipients. This group of 50 exceptional minds who, in spite of the unyielding challenges, far exceeded expectations in their final 2019 matric exams by graduating with a total of 283.
2020 will undoubtedly be no different for this great initiative as preparations are already underway for the annual flagship event, which will take place at Thaba Eco Hotel on the 17th of April 2020. All in attendance will be introduced to the new intake of 50 outstanding scholars from all corners of South Africa who will join the ranks of their 125 predecessors as some of the most dedicated and hardworking pupils from Quintile Schools 1 to 3. As a requirement the parents/guardians of the scholars need to be exempt from paying tuition fees due to financial difficulties. The scholars also need to obtain a minimum average of 85% by the end of their Grade 11 year.
It is well worth mentioning that the programme has produced some of the country’s top performing matriculants in 2019 and one such learner is Mutshidzi Gayane from Patrick Ramaano Secondary School in Vanda Limpopo. This phenomenal young lady came out on top as the leader of the five learners in the programme. Mutshidzi has accomplished an astonishing feat of seven distinctions with an overall average of 94.8%. She obtained a score of 99% in Physical Sciences, 98% in Geography, 97% in Life Sciences, 91% in L.O and English, together with a 94% in Tshivenda and Mathematics respectively. Mutshidzi wishes to study for her Computer Science and Engineering Degree at the University of Cape Town. Her goal is to use her degree to provide solutions to technical problems that her community are confronted with.
With an average of 93,3%, Trevor Mashabela is a close runner up. The learner from Rantobeng Secondary School in Limpopo successfully attained seven distinctions, with 100% in Life Sciences, 99% in Physical Sciences, 95% in Geography, 93% for Life Orientation, 92% in Mathematics, 85% in English First Language and 89% for Sepedi Home language.
In turn Tlotlo Lekgoba from Baitiredi Technical and Commercial High School in Kuruman Northern Cape managed to obtain nine distinctions at an average of 93.2%. These include 99% in Physical Sciences, 97% in Mathematics, 95% in Economics, 93% in Computer Application Technology, 93% in Life Sciences, 92% in Accounting, 92% in English: first additional language, 91% in Life Orientation and 87% in Setswana Home Language. She will be studying towards a degree in Actuarial Sciences at the University of the Free State.
In fourth place is Nesta Phasani who hails from Vhembe East in Limpopo and attended Matavhela Secondary School. Nesta worked hard to obtain an average of 91,6% for his seven subjects, all of which he got distinctions for, his highest distinction being for Physical Science with an average of 97%. He further achieved 96% for Tshivenda Home Language, 93% for Geography, 92% for both Mathematics and Life Orientation respectively, 91% for Life Sciences and 86% for English First Language.
In fifth position is Siphokazi Magagula, a learner at Sitintle Senior Secondary School in Nelspruit Mpumalanga, who managed to achieve seven distinctions. She plans on pursuing studies in either Mathematics or Aerospace Engineering. With an average of 92%, her achievements include 99% in Physical Sciences, 97% in Life Sciences, 96% in Accounting, 92% in Mathematics, 89% in L.O, 88% in English FA language and 86% in SiSwati Home language.
“With each year, the scholarship recipients succeed in breaking records and exceed all expectations. We are indeed proud of all our recipients, and their academic achievements”, says Cikizwa Bacela who is also the Programme Coordinator. “While the Foundation aims to add value through the Siyandisa Scholarship offering, it is inspiring to see how dedicated and committed the scholars are to achieving excellence and exiting high school at the highest possible level despite all obstacles and hardships. With each year, the learners are pushing the benchmark higher and we look forward to welcoming new scholars into the programme and hope that these achievements are an indication that they too are more than capable of achieving excellence.”
*The Siyandisa Scholarship offering includes tablets and data access as a technology platform for learning and interaction. With these tools, recipients gain access to custom high-quality online learning content targeted at matriculation examination preparation. A vital aspect of the scholarship is access to dedicated career counsellors assisting with the vital aspect of career and tertiary study preparation as well as access to personal mentors to assist with many of the soft skills difficulties’ learners are faced with. In addition, scholars receive stationery, power banks, a financial incentive of R1 000 per matriculation distinction achieved and the opportunity to quality for high value bursaries for their tertiary studies.