Go 20 October 2022

4 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2122. Find us on Facebook 20 October 2022 GO & EXPRESS
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LIT MINDZ preparing learners for world of work
TAMMY FRAY
LIT MINDZ is a schoolbased
science and
technology initiative that
aims to improve secondary
learners’ support for maths and
science.
LIT MINDZ was founded by
a production manager at First
National Battery, Wandisile
Mbengashe, in 2018.
The programme aims to
strengthen collaboration
between education spaces and
industry so that more
professionals partner with
schools in supportive roles.
This support takes the form
of tutoring, mentoring and job
exposure.
Currently, LIT MINDZ has
been working primarily with
Sikhulule High School in
Mdantsane. The programme has
had much success at the school
in terms of nurturing an interest
in science and technology.
Thanks to the programme,
Sikhulule High has strong
partnerships with
manufacturing firms, and
through site visits pupils are able
to learn about the different jobs
in science and technology.
Mbengashe said pupils at
schools in low-income areas
were vulnerable to many
challenges at home and at
school and they were not
mentored on the career paths
available to them.
The pupils were led to
believe that maths and science
were too complex for them to
master and this enabled s ch o o l s
to encourage pupils to move
from maths to maths literacy to
prioritise the school’s matric
pass rate.
Since working with
Sikuhulule High, LIT MINDZ
has seen a steady improvement
in the school’s pass rate, with
more pupils remaining enrolled
in maths and science. For 2023,
LIT MINDZ hopes to improve
the matric pass rate at the school
from 70% as well as establish
functional facilities to support
learning such as science and
computer labs as well as
agricultural facilities.
LEARNING SUPPORT: Wandisile Mbengashe accompanies pupils from Sikhulule High School
on one of their site visits to a local manufacturing plant. Pictures: SUPPLIED
WATER WONDERS: The Stirling High School first team girls’ water polo side
celebrate coming second in the Co-Ed Tournament held from October 5-6 in
Durban. Picture: SUPPLIED
DRAMATIC MOMENT: Pupils from the Merrifield College
drama department are deep into rehearsals for their staging of
the Greek tragedy ‘Antigone’, from October 18-20. P i c t u re :
SUPPLIED
NOT OUT: Beaming Chad Clark-Evans
scored 100 not out for Stirling High
School’s 1st XI against Westering High on
October 6. Picture: SUPPLIED
CO-ED EXCELLENCE: Hudson Park High School’s girls’ and boys’ 1st water polo
teams recently travelled to Thomas More College in Durban to participate in the
2022 edition of the annual Co-Ed Tournament. Despite the sudden and tragic
passing of their friend and teammate Sarah Kruger, the girls’ team finished 14th
and the boys 15th out of 20 teams each. Picture: SUPPLIED
DREAM REALISED: Emma Fray at the South African Gymnastics Games
Picture: SUPPLIED
Young gymnast to represent SA
TAMMY FRAY
Merrifield Preparatory School pupil
Emma Fray, 11, has been selected to
the national side at the South African
Gymnastics Games that were held
from September 30 to October 9.
Emma has been training nine hours
a week throughout 2022 to achieve
this feat. She is the only local gymnast
from her age group in her club to have
been selected to the side.
She competed at the three district
competitions during the year, two of
which were qualifiers for the games in
O c t o b e r.
The gymnasts were required to
score 7 or higher out of 10 for each of
the four apparatus (floor, beam, bar
and vault).
Emma qualified in the first two
competitions but competed in the third
to try better her qualifying score.
She said competing in the district
rounds in Gqeberha against gymnasts
exposed to different equipment and
skill levels had been tough.
“I used to watch Simone Biles in the
Olympics on YouTube with my
cousins, and they helped me to learn
how to do a round-off,” Emma said.
“I taught myself a lot of gymnastics
skills on my trampoline at home.
“I finally started gymnastics with
my best friend when we were six and
we just kept pushing each other in
comps and also in learning new skills. I
love gymnastics. It relaxes me, so I
think it’s easy for me to stay committed,
even though it is very hard work.”
Her parents, Dr Gareth and
Veronica Fray, are immensely proud of
Emm’s achievement.
“The whole experience was surreal.
“It felt like we were at the
Olympics!” said Veronica.
“Getting to that level, we were just
beyond proud and asked only that she
enjoy it.
“She is dedicated and driven. She is
as hard on herself as the sport is on her
body. But she absolutely loves it.
“And we are immensely proud of
h e r.”