Pretoria - The class of 2010 at the Edward Phathudi Comprehensive School in Atteridgeville are racing to finish the syllabus for the year and complete preparations ahead of the National Senior Certificate exams.
While some said they were not yet confident of their preparations, pupils, teachers and the community have pulled together to ensure the matriculants are able to achieve the marks they have set themselves and spirits are high.
Johannes Ndaba, 16, said he was not ready to write his both physical science and mathematics papers as they had not finished their syllabus.
"There is still a lot of work which we are expected to do within this short period, and as a result we've set up study groups with my classmates to help each other. There is no more time to socialise at home and here at school," said Johannes.
He said their preparations for the exams were affected by the recent teachers' strike, but he was still working hard to ensure he was able to study journalism at the University of Pretoria next year.
Patience Marai, 18, said although she was not fully prepared as not everything in the syllabus was covered during the year, she had devoted most of her time to practicing maths.
"I am bit scared and feeling extremely nervous, however, I am working very hard so that I get a university admission since I am planning to study social work at Unisa next year," she said.
Hope Ngobeni said: "There is a lot of work to do, but I've strategically connected to people who are good in Physical Science at the township to help me. I have also begun to balance my school work and private life."
The 17-year-old, who wants to pursue studies in pathology at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), said while teachers were working very hard to catch up with the outstanding work, the Department of Education was also helping to prepare them for the exams.
"We were taken to a camp in Hammanskraal, where specialists in various subjects helped us to get more knowledge. The camp was short, but we gained a lot," she said, adding that they had also attended extra lessons on weekends at Tshwane South College campus.
The study groups and extra efforts by teachers was a big help to 17-year-old Pamela Selopyane.
"I am nervous too, but the study groups and the support from our teachers is giving us more hope. The fact that we still have a lot of work to do in both maths and physical science is a burden because I am planning to study Bio Medicine at TUT. To get admission for this course, I must get good symbols in maths and science," she said.
School principal Michael Masango said they were working very hard and it would be difficult for them to say they were 100 percent ready for the exams since there is still some outstanding work that need to be done.
"We can't say we are ready, considering the time we lost as a result of the strike, but we've since introduced extra classes for our 144 matriculants," he said.
Masango said they are hoping to get a 70 percent pass rate.
