Luzuko Pongoma

Luzuko Pongoma

Matric pupils received divine intervention to motivate and encourage them as they prepare to crack the new curriculum.

Grade 12 pupils from more than five high schools gathered at the Assemblies of God in Tsakane, Ekuruleni, yesterday to listen to speakers.

Chairman Vusi Mbonani said the church was intervening because the matric pass rate in Tsakane had declined.

"We are not only asking for spiritual intervention," he said. "We have invited graduates to motivate them so that the pupils can focus on their education."

Mbonani said they also launched a bursary fund to assist matriculants from the community who do well in exams but cannot afford to continue with their studies.

On Friday Grade 12 pupils from Soweto gathered at Pace Commercial School.

Pastor Tony Seaka said the event was held to help pupils cope with stress before and during exams.

"Many students commit suicide at this time of the year and some start having emotional problems that keep them from studying."

Seaka said that touching the pupils' spirits would improve their moral life and help them concentrate on their exams. He warned pupils not to think prayer would make them pass.

"You have to study hard and not think about your current problems - but about the reward of passing," he said.

Bongumusa Zweni, a pupil from Kwadeda Ngendlala High School in Zola North, said the prayer would guide him.

"Bad things happened in school this year," he said. "The prayers will clear our minds."

He said his school would get a 100 percent pass rate.

"Last year it was 80 percent. We want to improve and we are going to be one of the first schools to achieve 100 percent in the new curriculum," he said.