By Doreen Mokgolo
Being overwhelmed by the matric workload after skipping Grade 11 and the pressure to score seven distinctions didn’t stop Juan Miyambo from being crowned the top matric achiever in Ekurhuleni.
The 17-year-old from Lesiba Secondary School in Daveyton is one of 30 learners from the metro who were honoured by Ekurhuleni mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana on Wednesday.
Juan achieved seven distinctions: 98% in Mathematics, 97% in Agricultural Sciences, 90% in Life Orientation, 89% in Life Sciences, 86% in Physical Science, 86% in English and 82% in Xhitsonga Home Language.
He was promoted from Grade 10 to Grade 12 after his school noted his excellent academic performance.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, Juan said though he was hesitant about taking the offer to skip the grade, his school and parents offered to support him.
“I was under a lot of strain and pressure as I had to catch up on some of the learning material from Grade 11 while balancing the load from matric. I was always studying in class until 6pm and during my spare time I used to study previous exam papers.
“There were times during the year, especially during the preliminary exams, where I felt I was not coping and was ready to give up,” he said.
His marks dropped from six distinctions to five in the preliminary exams, forcing him to put more effort into his schoolwork.
Encouraging the matric class of 2024, Juan said they should be consistent and disciplined during the year and focus on improving their grades from the previous term.
He is currently enrolled at Wits University to pursue a degree in actuarial science.
Ngodwana said the metro is proud of its matrics and celebrates the top learners for performing exceptionally well.
The mayor said although the Ekurhuleni bursary has been halted since 2020, the council is reviewing whether to reinstate it.
“We understand that there are learners from Ekurhuleni who need financial support. For now, we are funding those who have been in the system since 2016,” he said.
Pictured above: Matric genius Juan Miyambo.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
