Losing her mother, being abandoned by her father and losing her hearing at a young age did not deter Thabile Qondani from pursuing her dreams.
Her hard work and determination to succeed in life saw her being crowned one of the top achieving matriculants in KwaZulu-Natal for 2018.
As one of the first matriculants to sit for a Sign Language exam, after Sign Language was adopted as a Home Language last year, Qondani attained the second highest mark in the subject nationally.
The 20-year-old, who hails from Copesville in Pietermaritzburg, was one of the eight matriculants from KwaThintwa School for the Deaf who were honoured and awarded trophies by KZN Finance MEC Belinda Scott at a function held to celebrate their achievements.
The event, attended by teachers, staff, pupils, officials from provincial government departments, sponsors and supporters of the school was held at the school earlier today.
Scott, who adopted the school four years ago, said she was proud of KwaThintwa and will continue supporting it.
She paid tribute to the staff at KwaThintwa saying the school was proof that a good school is not based on how much money or resources it has but it is based on the education and the love and pride that teachers and the principal have for the school.
“If you really need to see that, then come to this school. It is really an exceptional school…These children are not disabled but they are empowered because of their strength is much greater,” MEC Scott said.
Speaking through her former English teacher Stephanie Paul, Qondani had high praises for the principal and all the teachers and support staff.
She said she came to KwaThintwa in 2012 from a mainstream school.
“Everyone welcomed me with open arms and supported me with everything that I needed,” she said.
She continued: “I wish I could stay forever but it is my turn to go. Time is moving forward and so must I”.
Qondani who has been accepted into an LLB programme at the University of Zululand, also thanked her aunt whom she said had become a mother to her.
“It was difficult growing up without parents but even more difficult to accept my disability. My aunt and my uncle took me in and gave me all the support,” said Qondani.
Congratulating the matriculants, Scott said: “Thobile, I am very proud of you I am sure you will love your law degree and I know you will do well. I am looking forward to following your career as well as all the careers of the young matriculants here. What I always say to young children is that the future president could be amongst us because we are today among such greatness.”
Principal of the school Dr. Mavis Naidoo said the school has scored 100% pass rate for the past eight years. Of the eight learners who wrote their matric exams last year, five had bachelor passes while the other three had Diploma passes, she said.
The quality of the passes has been improving, Naidoo said adding that most of the pupils scores A’s, B’s and C symbols in various subjects.
Over and above that the school hosted two matric bootcamps last year. These are run by the Department of Education and involved children identified from various mainstream schools in the Pinetown District. The top achieving learners from the bootcamps were also awarded trophies yesterday.
One such pupil scored eight A’s, another scored seven while eight others scored six A’s each.
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