LAMVI - "Parents should check their children's school work on a regular basis, so that they are able to continue to their performance in the classroom".

The circuit manager of Sambandou, Mr Vhangani Nemakonde, stated this during the quarterly test awards of Sumbana High School last Friday. The school produced a 100% pass rate during the past two years in the Grade 12 examinations.

The main purpose of the awards is to motivate pupils to learn hard. "We want to motivate learners to stick to education and advise them not use drugs and alcohol," he said. According to the principal, Mr David Mushiana, they were impressed by the commitment shown by the learners.

Sumbana Secondary is one of the many schools situated in a very remote area of the Vhembe district. Although it is within the Mutale area, it is an area still very poor in transport.

The social investment manager of Tshikondeni Mine, Mr Reginald Kone, promised that the best learners who topped or obtained symbol a C in Maths and Science would receive a R35 000 bursary from Tshikondeni Mine.

The guest speaker, Dr Nkhelebeni Phaswana of Kalahari Productions and Booksellers, said that parents should make sure that the pupils do their work during their free time at home. He pointed out that the learners should also devote some of their time to schoolwork, instead of spending all their time having fun. He said that they should divide their time so that some of it is spent constructively.

Phaswana donated R1 000 and a trophy to the best student at the end of the year. "Kalahari will donate more than R20 000 for the best learners in the Vhembe district," he said.