Durban - "I am more of a maths man, my friends call me in the afternoon for some help and I teach them." These are Thembani Mdletshe's words just days ahead of the matric examinations.
The Zwelithini High School grade 12 learner from Eshowe said he would be bending the truth a little if he admitted to not being distracted during the Soccer World Cup.
"I tried to focus; I really tried and did manage to study during the World Cup. We formed study groups and listened to the educational programmes on the radio," said Mdletshe.
The confident young man feels that the trace of nerves that pervades his body is a normal reaction to writing the most important examination in his schooling life.
Given the fact that learners were faced with three more weeks outside the classroom due to the public service strike, alarm bells were ringing across the country.
But schools, under direction from the department of education, had intervention programmes to help learners get back on track.
"I am not nervous because most of our teachers completed the syllabus way before the World Cup. So yes I am ready," said Mdletshe.
Phumelele Shandu, a grade 12 teacher at Mdletshe's school, confirmed that she with her colleagues finished the syllabus earlier in the year but the strike did impact on their time for revision.
"The teachers and students were worried about the time factor during the disruption but we just kept going. Now the nervousness they feel is the exam fever," said Shandu.
She added: "We can't guarantee better results than last year but we are confident that we won't fall behind either. Our kids have done more than we expected from them this year".
Shandu is impressed with the work ethic displayed by the grade 12 class at Zwelithini High School. "The children are taking these exams seriously, they didn't want a farewell function but we organised one anyway because it is their last year," said Shandu
Grace Mzobe, an agricultural sciences educator, at the Umbambiswano High School said: "Not all subjects suffered during the strike. Teachers work at different paces but all the work has been done, I can assure you we are prepared. We allocated extra hours for teaching. We were open during the World Cup for two weeks, so we have done as much as we can".
Kamalanathan Naidoo the principal at Forest Haven Secondary School in Phoenix is a hands-on leader.
While his grade 12 learners' attendance during the September holidays was impressive, phone calls were still made to some learners' homes for non-attendance to a few classes.
"I have interacted with their parents to check on the learners and also to see what support they (the parents) were giving to their children. We also visited their homes. We can only do so much but the support they get at home is also important," said Naidoo.
The 35 grade 12 learners went to school during the World Cup from 10-24 June. Study aids provided by the provincial department of education were also distributed to the learners for additional revision.
Naidoo also helped the learners to prepare for one of their mathematics examinations.
"In 2007, we saw the results dip nationally because of the strike that year. But with our intervention programmes we are expecting our learners to perform well. We are expecting a 95 percent pass rate," said Naidoo.
As far as security during the exams are concerned, there are no real worries at Forest Haven. In fact Naidoo lauded the department's security procedures.
"I have no issues about security concerns. I am quite happy with all the secure measures".
Four learners from the Phoenix school told BuaNews that they are ready for the exams and could write them now if they had to.
Nadia Padayachee who wants to become a Human Resources Manager said she has been preparing from the beginning of the year. "I will pass and do well. I have been studying the entire year on my own and in a study group."
Litricia Persad dreams of becoming a successful Marketing Manager but for now feels confident because preparations in certain subjects started in 2009.
Persad added that the World Cup and strike was not a hindrance but an opportunity.
"We saw this as more time to prepare for the exams. We met with our teachers to get help with areas we had a bit of problems with," said Persad.
A view, that fellow student and budding pilot Rakesh Patel, agreed with. After a trip to India, Patel decided on a career in flying aircrafts. "I don't like soccer so I used the World Cup to get into a routine to study, when the strike took place I just continued studying".
Senasha Devnarian who looks forward to pursuing a career in law after school is also ready to take on the exams and will look to achieve three distinctions. During her trial exams, she got four A's.
All the learners feel that they need to be realistic about what they can achieve in this exam and refuse to get carried away with their trial results which looked very promising.
Like their counterparts that go to schools in Eshowe, they feel the stress but turn to other activities to relax.
Patel is an avid swimmer and takes to the water to invite relaxation while Padayachee turns up the stereo and dances until she is ready to study again.
Persad loves escapism in the form of comedies to get the endorphins released while Devnarian prefers having conversations with friends and cousins for a well deserved break.
Naidoo is impressed with his learners and their attitudes and said their career choices deviates from the traditional jobs chosen by learners - namely doctors, lawyers and teachers.
"People are interacting with each other and looking at new opportunities. The world is evolving and changing. They are also looking at the potential earning power and being realistic about their choices," said Naidoo.
Leon Ishaan Bagirathi is one grade 12 teacher at Forest Haven Secondary who can be proud of himself.
All his learners said they look most forward to writing their life science exam which is taught by Bagirathi.
"I have a very diligent set of learners, they have been proactive and are a good set. Time constraints were a challenge this year but we made accommodations and got through the strike period," said. Bagirathi.
