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It pays to work hard Dedicated matrics receive cash, certificates
} Tladi Moloi INVESTEC spent R340 000 by rewarding 40 matric learners from Qwaqwa who had obtained distinctions in Physical Science and Mathematics in 2012. They were awarded R10 000 each, certificates and a trophy at the 2013 Investec Qwaqwa Promaths Awards ceremony which was held at the Beacon Secondary School on Thursday. The awards ceremony was organised by the Free State Department of Education in partnership with the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology. A total of 13 learners obtained distinctions in Mathematics, the other 4 distinctions in Science while 23 obtained distinctions in both Maths and Science. The top achiever award was snatched up by Morena Tsotetsi (18), who is now a Civil Engineering student at the University of Cape Town. Tsotetsi, who had completed his matric at Beacon, obtained six distinctions and 86% in Science. He said he was happy with the achievement and added that it showed God was in control. “I am one of those people who believe that I am who I am because of God. I acknowledge Him for guiding me because without Him I would not have been here,” he said. Tsotetsi said obtaining six distinctions had not been a walk in the park and added that he had to make serious decisions beforehand. “There is no secret to my success. I just stuck to the basics. Kutlwanong has played a big role in my life and I want to thank them. “I am happy that finally my hard work had paid off,” he said.
HERO: Morena Tsotetsi (centre), who won the top achiever award during the 2013 Investec Qwaqwa Promaths Awards, with Tate Makgoe, the Free State MEC for Education, and Fani Titi, the chairperson of the board of directors: Investec. Photo: Tladi Moloi Tate Makgoe, the Free State MEC for Education, said they had the best teachers in Qwaqwa. He said Investec had contributed more than R2 million to the
programme and thanked them for that. “The gr. 12 learners in Qwaqwa are brilliant in Mathematics and for this reason they’ve been
obtaining 80%. “I think we are helping children to realise their dreams and we are also helping South Africa to be better.
“Getting good qualifications is up to you, but once you have better qualifications, you can come back and develop Qwaqwa,” he said. Makgoe said one day Qwaqwa would be different because those children would do what they could not achieve. He said they had fought against apartheid and for that reason had to make South Africa prosper. “The class of 2012 is the best ever, and for the first time can contest the best in the country,” he said. Fani Titi, the chairperson of the board of directors: Investec, said they had decided to help the schools in Qwaqwa because he was born and bred in the small village Makgalaneng. He, however, pointed out that their programme assisted the whole of South Africa. “Our programme identifies learners from the schools and helps them with Mathematics and Physical Science – these are learners from gr. 10 to gr. 12. Today, we are awarding their hard work of last year,” he said. Titi pointed out that Mathematics and Science were very important because a number of things in the world were controlled by both including Accounting. “We would have loved to help learners from gr. R, but our budget is limited and for this reason we start at gr. 10. Our education system is improving and this is what we have been aiming at,” he said. He said they had been sponsoring Kutlwanong for four years and wanted to get more sponsors so that they could help more learners. ) Visit the Express website www.express-news.co.za for more photos of the ceremony.