Learners of Dengenya High School, in Dzingahe near Thohoyandou, have vowed to work hard and produce quality results at the end of the year. This comes after prominent academics came to motivate them at their school last week.

A group of community builders has jointly pledged more than R7 000 which will be used to reward top learners at the end of the year.

Well-known scholar Dr Nkhelebeni Phaswana of Kalahari Booksellers and Publishers pledged R5 000 whereas Prof Dovhani Thakhathi has put down R1 200. Pastor Vusani Ramabulana pledged R1 000 and prominent attorney Phillip Madala did not want to be a spectator. He pledged R500.

Last year, the school produced an 86,7% pass rate from the 75 learners who sat for the final Grade 12 examinations.

School principal Mr Tshililo Alidzulwi says the pledges will obviously help to motivate the learners to acquire quality results. "We are very grateful for the support from the donors and we believe that our relationship will continue to grow over time. Our sole aim is to make sure that these children become responsible adults and there is no other weapon that we can use, except equipping them with education."

Alidzulwi further urged community members to contribute to the development of the education of their kids. "Educators and learners cannot make it on their own; we also need assistance from the outside world because joint efforts will bring good results to the education of our children."

One of the grade 12 learners at the school, Shonisani Netshishivhe, says there is no doubt that the motivation will play an important role. "I will definitely pass my grade 12 with flying colours. I will never disappoint the sponsors, my educators and parents."