Aviwe Zono is all set to blaze a path in IT circles after chalking up an impressive 86% for maths in matric, in large part due to the supplementary educational support offered by the Engen Maths and Science School programme.
“My goal for the future is to become a software engineer and work for a leading South African technology company,” says the KwaMagxaki resident who overcame many hardships to complete her schooling.
“Losing my great-grandmother right after my preliminary exams, missed school days and the added stress of lockdown made 2021 the hardest year possible,” continues Aviwe, adding that “the school workload was extensive because we had to first finish the grade 11 syllabus and then start and finish the grade 12 syllabus in just 9 months.”
An alumnus of Khwezi Lomso Comprehensive School in Port Elizabeth, Aviwe attributes her maths distinction to the learning support she received while enrolled in the Engen Maths and Science School programme.
“The teachers at EMSS are the best and they make the lessons fun and easy.
“EMSS helped me a lot in Physical Sciences because in grade 10 I used to get level 3 or 4 marks in the subject, but after joining the programme my marks improved and in my grade 12 year I got level 6’s and 7’s.”
The Engen Maths and Science Schools have run for over 30 years, and offer underprivileged grade 10-12 learners free supplementary Maths, Science, and English tuition on Saturdays at nine locations across South Africa.
These include Cape Town (classes are held at Belgravia and Manzombotho High), Port Elizabeth, East London, Cala and Johannesburg, and in KwaZulu-Natal where classes are hosted at Fairvale High School, Ganges High School, Howard College, and Mangosuthu University of Technology.
The 429-strong Engen Maths and Science School matric class of 2021 attained a 77% overall pass rate of which 64% attained bachelor passes.
And while Aviwe doesn’t’ know what her future holds, she says she knows it will be something extraordinary.
“I want to provide for my family and make them proud of me for being the first graduate in our family.”
Her advice for the matric students of 2022 is to put everything into making a success of the year.
“It is going to be one long and hard journey and life will seem unfair to you, especially this year,” says Aviwe. “You might sometimes feel like giving up but keep on going, work hard for what you believe in because hard work does pay off, but consistency is key.”
Engen’s manager of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. James Nyawera explains that the EMSS programme focuses specifically on providing extra tuition in “gateway” subjects such as mathematics and science; subjects which are considered critical in addressing the country’s technical and engineering skills shortage as well as spurring economic growth and development.
“The EMSS programme seeks to harness the potential of talented young people in difficult circumstances and to also contribute to the pool of scarce skills in the country,” comments Nyawera.
“Starting off 34 years ago as Engen Saturday Schools, EMSS remains central to Engen’s efforts to contribute to the growth and transformation of South Africa,” continues Nyawera, adding that “the programme has worked tirelessly to help transform young underprivileged people’s lives, with a focus of creating a diverse and vibrant workforce.”
Nyawera says Engen is incredibly proud of Aviwe and all the EMSS learners who completed matric in 2021, despite extremely trying circumstances.
“Well done to all for showing true grit and determination! It is Engen’s ultimate reward to help set talented people up to pursue stimulating careers that won’t only benefit them personally, but also their families and the broader economy of South Africa.
“Engen is committed to building tomorrow’s leaders and if we want to ensure that the youth of tomorrow are prepared for a rapidly changing world, we need to ensure that they have the right mix of skills, for them to reach their full potential,” concludes Nyawera.
Engen congratulates the Engen Maths and Science School class of 2021 and offers a well-deserved round of applause to all the learners and teachers.
