Good Morning Angels: Supporting matriculants to ace the 2020 final exams during COVID-19

BACKGROUND: The Class of 2020 matriculants will write their first final exam on Monday, 19 October, when all candidates will write Life Orientation. Thereafter, the final exams will officially start on 5 November to 15 December 2020.

The final school exams are extremely significant in the lives of school learners and this is always a stressful time where extra support is needed. This year, amid the health crisis and national lockdown brought on by COVID-19, many school days were lost and matriculants spent a large part of the year at home. Many homes are not ideal for learning, with families struggling to provide basics like food, electricity, and, in many cases, safety. Educators and the government are doing the best they can to prepare candidates, but focus and concentration on academics are not possible without a healthy diet and support at home, leaving the poor at a huge disadvantage.

With this in mind, Kagiso Capital and Growthpoint Properties will be investing R1,000,000 to assist matriculants who are most in need of these basics while preparing and writing the most important exams of their lives. Ultra-Link, the IT and Tech supply company for home and business, will sponsor high quality, comfortable masks to each learner assisted, as well as thermometers and masks to their schools, to the value of R1.25-million. 

RECIPIENTS AND THEIR ANGELS:

Featured Sponsor: Dr Linda Sigaba, Fund Manager at Growthpoint Properties

19 Schools in Tshwane have nominated matriculants for GMA Class of 2020 Matric Support

A total of 375 matriculants will each receive: 

* Monthly grocery hamper for October, November and December: Sponsored by Growthpoint Properties and Kagiso Capital - delivered by OneCart

* Enough masks to wear at school and home for three months: Sponsored by Ultra-Link

* Additional masks and thermometers for each of the 19 Tshwane schools represented: Sponsored by Ultra-Link

* Access to 33 online tutoring workshops in different subjects presented by Goodie Tutors: Sponsored by Growthpoint Properties and Kagiso Capital

One of the schools whose matriculants will benefit from this project is Thuto Bohlale Secondary in Nellmapius. 

Beverley Mokgobjoa is the Principal of Thuto Bohlale Secondary in Nellmaphius. The school services the surrounding informal settlements, where most parents are unemployed and learners receive their main meals from the school feeding scheme. The school has 71 matriculants. Ms Mokgobjoa says drug and substance abuse in this community is rife and matriculants, Sefoto Hope and Mochike Karabo, confirms this. They say during lockdown there was more loitering and drug activity around their homes, as well as noise and hunger. They could not participate in all online learning as they did not have money to buy data. 

As soon as schools were reopened for matriculants, they grabbed the opportunity to go back. The school started with catch-up classes: early morning, during the day, and on weekends. Ms Mokgobjoa says preparation is going well and they are expecting a matric pass rate of 95% - that’s 10% higher than usual. 

Growthpoint Properties

Growthpoint Properties is committed to delivering workspaces that positively impact the environment, as well as the physical and mental well-being of the people who occupy them. Our innovative and sustainable property offerings are designed around providing space for you and your business to thrive.

An international property company with assets in South Africa, Eastern Europe, Australia and the UK, we are the largest South African primary REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) listed on the JSE and a 50% stakeholder in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. With an increasing number of assets offshore, and the largest collection of Green Star rated buildings in the country, we own and manage a diversified portfolio of over 500 property assets, locally and internationally.

In South Africa, our retail, office and industrial portfolios feature high-quality properties located in major metropolitan areas and key development nodes. Our Trading & Development team have also delivered several iconic, sustainable and highly sought-after buildings to the market.

Tune in to the 'Breakfast with Martin Bester

https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/breakfast-martin-bester/