Bloemfontein - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is confident that the Class of 2010 will produce good results despite the challenges experienced this year.
"This year we are going to do quite well. I'm feeling the success because it is here," the minister said on Sunday, addressing pupils from across the Free State who had converged for a prayer service ahead of the start of the matric exams next week.
The service, organised to motivate and wish the pupils well for their exams, was attended by educators, members of the Free State Legislature, the community and various dignitaries.
Motshekga - who described the pupils as her flowers of the nation - encouraged the learners to seize the opportunity and make the best of the present as the countdown to the final exams had begun.
"You must study as if the world is coming to an end. This year is your year and you can't postpone it. Remember that when you study you study for us all and your success is our success as a country.
"I have witnessed the motivation as I've seen study groups formed from various parts of the country and learners helping each other. That motivation and focus must continue until exams adjourn," Motshekga told an attentive congregation.
The minister said she was aware that provinces had done their best to ensure learners were catered for during the recent teachers strike, adding that now it was up to the learners to finish the race.
Motivated by the sermon and encouraging words of the speakers, most learners said they appreciated the confidence the country and government had in them.
"We are going to play our part and apply some of the fruitful messages we heard today such as owning our destiny," said Thando Mokaulezi, Head Girl of Bloemfontein High School.
"We were told to study hard as if the world is coming to an end and persevere, and that's exactly what most of us are going to do. We will also ask God for strength to help us reap the fruits of our harvest," she said with friends nodding their heads in agreement.